Transport networks, like roads, railways, and airports, have a big effect on our land and scenery. They change our environment in several important ways. Let’s look at some of them more closely.
When we build things like roads and railways, we often have to change the land a lot. This includes:
Digging through hills: Sometimes, we create tunnels through mountains. For example, the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland is the longest railway tunnel in the world. It shows how much we can change the shape of the land.
Flattening land: In cities, we often flatten areas to make space for buildings. This can lead to losing the plants, animals, and beauty that were there before.
More vehicles on the roads and cutting down plants can speed up:
Soil erosion: When it rains, the water can’t soak into the ground as easily, which means it washes away more soil. This can cause problems for rivers and lakes and harm the animals living in them.
Sedimentation: When we build new things, dirt and waste can get washed into lakes and rivers, which can hurt the water ecosystems.
Transport networks can split up areas where wildlife lives. This separation, known as “fragmentation,” can be dangerous for animals that need large spaces to thrive, like the Florida Panther, which has trouble moving around because of roads.
Finally, transport networks add to pollution. Cars and trucks produce greenhouse gases and create noise, which can harm both the land and the health of plants and animals.
In short, while transport networks help us connect and grow economically, they also change our natural landscapes. This means we need to plan better to lessen these impacts on the environment.
Transport networks, like roads, railways, and airports, have a big effect on our land and scenery. They change our environment in several important ways. Let’s look at some of them more closely.
When we build things like roads and railways, we often have to change the land a lot. This includes:
Digging through hills: Sometimes, we create tunnels through mountains. For example, the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland is the longest railway tunnel in the world. It shows how much we can change the shape of the land.
Flattening land: In cities, we often flatten areas to make space for buildings. This can lead to losing the plants, animals, and beauty that were there before.
More vehicles on the roads and cutting down plants can speed up:
Soil erosion: When it rains, the water can’t soak into the ground as easily, which means it washes away more soil. This can cause problems for rivers and lakes and harm the animals living in them.
Sedimentation: When we build new things, dirt and waste can get washed into lakes and rivers, which can hurt the water ecosystems.
Transport networks can split up areas where wildlife lives. This separation, known as “fragmentation,” can be dangerous for animals that need large spaces to thrive, like the Florida Panther, which has trouble moving around because of roads.
Finally, transport networks add to pollution. Cars and trucks produce greenhouse gases and create noise, which can harm both the land and the health of plants and animals.
In short, while transport networks help us connect and grow economically, they also change our natural landscapes. This means we need to plan better to lessen these impacts on the environment.