To most people, landscape is merely the physical geography of a region, whether it be mountainous terrain, forest, grassland, desert, seascape, etc. But to those of us who are enamored with natural history, landscape is the present-day product of underlying geology, plate tectonics, erosive forces, climate and human engineering which have determined its landforms, soil condition, hydrology and vegetation patterns. Furthermore, any given landscape is composed of various habitats and micro-habitats, harboring a diversity of life that is not always evident to the casual observer.
Naturalists, interested in the varied geophysical and biologic components of landscapes, tend to be fans of topographic maps, aerial photography, satellite imaging and other tools that lend perspective to any given region on Earth. Understanding the interplay of the many factors, past and present, that mold the continents and drive evolution, we know that landscapes offer clues to both the past and future history of our planet.
While the beauty and majesty of landscapes is enjoyed by all humans, we cannot fully appreciate their significance unless we understand the natural forces that produced them. Alas, such knowledge also leads to the realization that these scenic wonderlands are transient features of our home planet which, though often not apparent during our brief life span, are changing before our eyes.
