MapMaster 3
Atlas (Beta)Areas at Risk of Soil Degradation
WorldPhysical EnvironmentLevels of concern for there to be a decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for agricultural, pastoral, industrial, or urban purposes.
Geosystems: Intro to Physical Geography
A map illustrates areas at risk of soil degradation worldwide, categorized by serious concern, some concern, stable terrain, and non-vegetated land.
The map shows areas at risk of soil degradation using different colors.
Areas of Serious Concern (light pink): North America: Great Plains, southwestern deserts, and Mississippi Valley.
Central America: Most of the land.
South America: Lands along the Andes mountains, parts of interior and coastal Brazil.
Europe: Mostly in Eastern Europe.
Africa: Near the Mediterranean in North Africa; lands of the Sahel along the southern border of the Sahara; in and around Nigeria in West Africa; the island of Madagascar; smaller patches in East Africa and southern Africa.
Asia: Central and eastern China, much of mainland Southeast Asia, the islands of Borneo, and the Philippines.
Australia: Southeast Australia has a small area of serious concern.
Areas of Some Concern (light purple): Found in scattered regions across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Stable Terrain (light blue): These areas include parts of North America mostly in Canada, South America in parts of Brazil, and in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Nonvegetated Land (dark blue): Predominantly in desert regions such as the Sahara, Central Asia, and parts of Australia.