Geography

Thursday, August 28, 2008

• TSW: Be able to explain and identify the 5 themes of geography and how they relate to the world around us.

• Essential ??? Why might it be important to understand the difference between absolute and relative location?

Geography

Defined:

• The study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth.

Themes of Geography

• Location (where is it?)

• Place (what is it like?)

• Region (how are areas similar or different?)

• Human-Environment Interaction (how do people relate to the physical world?)

• Movement (how do people, ideas and products move from one place to another?)

Location

• Where is it?– Absolute Location-exact

place on earth where a geographic feature is found

Catherine Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia

59.56° N latitude, 30.18° E longitude

Fenway Park, Boston

Home plate is precisely at

42° 20’ 46.47” N latitude

71° 05’ 51.96” W longitude

° Degree

‘ Minute

“ Second

Hemispheres

Geographic Grid

• Absolute location is where lines of latitude and longitude cross

Location

• Where is it?– Relative Location- a

place in comparison to other places around it (house next to the gas station)

e.g., the NHS band hall is located just beyond the top of the stairs (adjacent to the student union), across the short hall, and through the doors. ☺

Place

• What is it like?– Explains

characteristics like landforms, climate, human interaction with the environment

South Sea Island, New Zealand

Region

• How are areas similar or different?– Formal– Functional – Perceptual

Cairo, Egypt

Marrakech, Morocco

Human-Environment Interaction

• How do people relate to the physical world?– Interact with the

environment to adjust or to alter it

Ireland

Movement

• How do people, ideas and products move from place to place?

Harrod’s, London, England

Conclusion

• 5 Themes– Location– Place– Region– Human Environment– Movement