Humans and the Environment
Water Management Projects

For thousands of years, humans have altered the environment through water management and diversion. This includes the use of irrigation, dams, reservoirs, and canals. In this interactivity, you will learn about specific water management projects. You will also explore their impact on the local environment. Click the player to begin.
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Physical and Environmental Changes

By using agricultural and industrial practices, societies have altered physical and environmental landscapes. In this interactivity, you will examine how humans have caused physical and environmental changes. Click the player to begin.
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Technology and the Environment
Technological advancements have greatly influenced how humans live and interact with their environment. People can change their surroundings. They can also adapt to their surroundings better than ever. Technology has influenced agriculture, energy usage, and transportation.
Agriculture

Advancements in agriculture have allowed people to efficiently grow greater quantities of food. The use of fertilizer is one of the ways farming has adapted to feed a growing population. Fertilizers are chemicals added to soil that help crops grow. Typically, they supplement nutrients that are missing from the soil. Crops benefit from these added nutrients. However, when fertilizer get washed into waterways, they cause contamination and oxygen depletion.
Another technological shift in agriculture is the rise of mechanization. Machines, rather than humans and animals, increasingly perform work on farms. This allows more land to be cleared, farmed, and maintained with less physical labor.