Geography – Worksheet Notes
1. What is a Flood?
A flood happens when there is too much water on the land. Rivers and dams overflow and
flood the surrounding area.
Example: In 2011, eight of South Africa’s nine provinces had floods. About 130 people died.
Floods usually happen after *heavy rainfall*, but people can also cause them.
2. Causes of Floods
A. Environmental Causes
1. Heavy rain fills up rivers and dams.
2. Steep slopes make rainwater flow off land quickly into rivers.
3. Fires destroy vegetation, so water runs off bare ground.
4. Overgrazing by animals removes grass, leaving bare land.
5. Tsunamis and storms flood coasts.
6. Earthquakes and lightning fires can also trigger floods.
B. Human Causes
1. Building dams that fill up and overflow.
2. Farmers remove/burn vegetation to make fields, so water runs off quickly.
3. Cities have lots of buildings and streets. Water can’t soak in, so it flows fast.
4. Destroying wetlands and lakes removes natural water stores. More water goes into rivers.
3. Effects of Floods
Floods cause serious damage to land, property, and can cause injuries and deaths.
Effects on people and land:
- People drown or get injured.
- Crops and animals are destroyed → food shortages.
- Soil is washed away → soil erosion, land becomes infertile.
- Buildings, roads, and transport systems are destroyed.
- Sewage pollutes water supplies → diseases spread easily.
- Coastal flooding covers land with salt water, killing plants and poisoning soil.
- People lose homes and may have to move.
4. Why Some Communities Are at Higher Risk
People often live next to rivers because:
- They use river water for drinking, washing, cooking.
- River water keeps soil fertile for crops.
- Land next to rivers is flat and easy to build on.
- Some have no money to live in safer areas.
- Some have ways to protect themselves with barriers.
Example: The Ganges River in Bangladesh floods almost every year when snow melts and
seasonal rains fall. Many people live there and are killed when floods happen.
5. Reducing the Impact of Floods
We can’t stop floods, but we can reduce damage:
Ways to reduce flood impact:
1. Build walls and barriers along river and coast banks.
2. Build settlements away from river banks.
3. Improve drainage so water flows away quickly.
4. Make laws to stop people living in high-risk areas.
5. Keep lakes, vegetation, wetlands to slow water flow into rivers.
6. Teach people about flood dangers.
Example: The Thames Barrier in London is a temporary dam wall that stops flood waters
from the sea coming up the River Thames.
6. Case Study: South African Floods 2011
- Date: January 2011
- Damage: 123+ people died, 20 000 people needed help, 33 municipalities declared
disaster areas.
- Cost: R356 million so far.
- Cause: Heavy rains damaged homes and flooded farmland.
- Relief aid: Food, blankets, emergency help given to victims.
Example: Precious Thabethe from Ivory Park, Johannesburg, lost her house walls in the
flood. Her family relied on church and food parcels.
7. Key Words
Food shortages - Not having enough food to feed people
Coastal flooding - Floods that affect areas next to the coast
Barrier - An object made to block or get in the way of something
Relief aid - Emergency help given to people in need
Soil erosion - When soil is washed away, making land infertile