The Geography Student

Image by  Ansgar Scheffold  from  Pixabay The 27th April is the Netherlands' king's birthday, the national day of the Netherlands. To celebrate this day, I've found ten fascinating facts about the Netherlands.  1. The Netherlands is the 6th happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report. I'm sure all teens will agree with me when I say teenage years are far from easy, but Dutch adolescents are ranked among the least stressed in the world. This is even more surprising when compared to other developed countries in Europe, where depression and suicide rates are increasing. So why are the Dutch so happy? According to de Roos, from the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), it is as simple as maintaining positive surroundings, in school, home, and with people. Also, Dutch children are more likely to eat breakfast, less likely to be overweight and less likely to have had underage sex. Children have more freedom and independence ...

Image by  Dust in the Wind  from  Pixabay   As if it isn't hard enough to navigate in the pitch-black night, bats can hunt their prey with no sight at all! However, global warming threatens the effectiveness of their unique ability to see without eyes. Bats use echolocation instead of sight, emitting high-frequency sounds (ultrasound) that bounce off objects, returning to the bat so it can tell how far away they are. But this method of navigation relies on variables that, with global warming, may be displaced. A rise in water vapor, wind and temperature - all consequences of climate change - decreases the quality and sound of ultrasound. These effects are particularly damaging in warmer climates, where ultrasound is of higher-frequency.  With dimmed senses bats may be less able to catch prey, putting them at risk of starvation. Also, it would be harder for them to detect predators such as owls and hawks, who don't rely on echolocation. Most species li...

Image by  Bruno /Germany  from  Pixabay   Beavers may be pests when it comes to irrigation, but they may also be capable of protecting ecosystems and prohibiting global warming. Description Large, furry mammals with webbed feet and flat scaly tales. Habitat Mainly found in North America, but also in Europe and Asia. Live in or near freshwater bodies, in homes called ‘lodges’ made predominantly of sticks and mud. Population Once more than 60 billion in North America alone, in 1988 there were only an estimated 6-12 million mainly due to hunting for fur. Food Herbivores. Eat tree bark, twigs, aquatic plants etc. Predators Hawks, otters, wolves, coyotes, bears etc. Humans are still a major threat to the beaver population. Species There are two species: the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver. Endangered? No According to environmental journalist...

Hello earth! My name is Myfanwy Brown and and I am sixteen years old.  I am currently studying Geography in the UK as one of my A levels. I am starting a blog during this period of self isolation to educate people on both culture and the environment.  Picture provided by Pexels Cultural diversity is decreasing due to globalization as western culture is adopted by an increasing number of people. I believe it is important to recognize and celebrate the numerous traditions, languages, foodstuffs and clothing that are beautiful examples of how different and unique each culture is. I intend to publish an article on the national day (or at some point that week because, you know, exam stress) of each country, detailing key elements of their culture. Picture provided by Pexels I will also be writing about human impact on animals, particularly looking at the effects of global warming, another topic I am passionate about. Therefore, I will also be posting articles on a vari...

Photo by DSD from Pexels Today is world rat day. This is the national day dedicated to rats which, if temperatures continue to increase exponentially, may be a serious threat to human lifestyle in the future as carriers of disease. Rat populations are predicted to increase by up to ten times in some areas due to global warming according to Dr Graeme Elliott, cited in  The Guardian, 2018 . Description Medium-sized, usually furry, long-tailed rodents Habitat Found in most countries, particularly in cities Population Unknown, though estimated to be billions Eat Pretty much anything, such as cereals, oats, rice and vegetables Predators Numerous, such as snakes, red foxes, hawks and humans Species Numerous, such as kangaroo rats, black rats, cotton rats Class Mammals Endangered? No Global warming is threatening to endanger thousands of sensitive species. But not rats. Quite the opposite in fact. For centuries humans have struggled in vain...