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Soil erosion, caused by wind and rain, can change land by wearing down mountains, creating valleys, making rivers appear and disappear. It is a slow and gradual process that takes thousands, even millions of years. But erosion may be speeded up greatly by human activities such as farming and mining. Soil develops very slowly over a long period of time but can be lost too quickly. The clearing of land for farming, residential, and commercial use can quickly destroy soil. It speeds up the process of erosion by leaving soil exposed and also prevents development of new soil by removing the plants and animals that help build humus.

Today's farmers try to farm in a way that reduces the amount of erosion and soil loss. They may plant cover crops or use a no-till method of farming. Soil is an important resource that we all must protect. Without soil there is no life.

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