Human and Environment Interactions
Boulder
Skiing is a popular sport in Boulder
Because of its natural beauty and high technology, Boulder is an attractive place to live. The city is growing at a fast pace and is starting to become crowded. Traffic congestion is common in Boulder. Recreation and sports are extremely popular in Boulder, including skiing, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, rock climbing, ice climbing, and ice skating. Many people drive four-wheel drive vehicles and sport utility vehicles. Snow tires are used on cars in the winter. Athletes from all over the world come to Boulder to train because the high altitude air contains less oxygen than air at sea level and provides a good training environment. Because of its high altitude, special baking instructions should be followed when cooking in Boulder.
Japan
Traditional Japanese buildings are designed to keep rain from being trapped on roofs.
Japan is one of the world?s leading industrialized nations and has a technologically advanced economy. In addition, it has one of the highest population densities in the world. Congestion of living space, highways, and railways is part of Japanese life. Crowded buildings, narrow streets, and small cars and apartments are common. Laundry hanging outside apartments is often seen. Traditional Japanese buildings have roofs designed to allow rain to fall off easily. Baseball fields are built on rooftops because of lack of space. Parking garages move up and down to save space. Environmental pollution exists from such concentrated development and will be a source of concern for the Japanese in the future. Because rice is one of Japan?s main crops, fields of rice paddies can be found there. Every year, about 1,500 minor earthquakes occur in Japan.