The World of Geography

“What is Geography?”“5 Themes of Geography”

Geography- what does it mean?study of the Earth and everything in or on itGeographersGeographers- the ones doing the studying

Analyze info. from many points of view

• Distance• Direction• Oceans• Landforms• Plant Life• People- more

importantly… – How they affect Earth– How Earth affects

them– How they affect each

other

GeographersGeographers- ask 2 basic questionsWhere is it located?Why is it there?

To organize answers… use “5 Themes of “5 Themes of Geography”Geography” • Location• Place• Human / Environment

Interaction• Movement• Region

““5 Themes of Geography”5 Themes of Geography” 5 ways to look at Earth (categories to organize their info.)

1.) Location1.) Location- first step in studying a place… learn of its location2 Ways To Do This2 Ways To Do This

Absolute Location-(exact place on the Earth)“geographic address” identify this by using 2 kinds of imaginary lines around the Earth

• Latitude– E/W circles on map or globe (aka parallels)

– Never meet– Divide globe into units called degrees– Middle line (Equator)

~ 0 degrees latitude~ measure locations N

or S of it~ farthest N or S is 90° (N and S Poles)

• Longitude– N / S lines… pinpoint place from E to W (aka meridians)– All meridians run through N and S Poles– Prime Meridian (main line) runs through Greenwich, England at 0 degrees

longitude– Describe locations as either E or W of Prime Meridian– Maximum Longitude is 180 degrees (half-way around world)

Relative LocationExplains where a place is by describing what it’s near

• Must have distance, direction, and a landmark

““5 Themes of Geography”5 Themes of Geography” 5 ways to look at Earth (categories to organize their info.)

2.) Place2.) Place- describes what it’s like there (includes a location’s physical and human features)

Physical FeaturesTo describe… may speak of climate, or land features (mts., rivers, etc.)

Human FeaturesTo describe… may speak of population or man-made features (cities, etc.)

““5 Themes of Geography”5 Themes of Geography” 5 ways to look at Earth (categories to organize their info.)

3.) Human / Environment Interaction3.) Human / Environment Interaction-

Theme stresses… how people affect their environment, how environment affects people, and how they affect each other

Geographers also use discuss consequences of people’s actions

““5 Themes of Geography”5 Themes of Geography” 5 ways to look at Earth (categories to organize their info.)

4.) Movement4.) Movement-helps explain how people, goods, and ideas get from one place to another

Example: immigrants migrate to “New World” and bring own culture… enriches nat’l culture

• US as the “Melting Pot”

““5 Themes of Geography”5 Themes of Geography” 5 ways to look at Earth (categories to organize their info.)

5.) Region5.) Region-Tells what it’s like there by making by making comparisonscomparisons

Each region has a unifying characteristic like…

• Climate• Land• Population• History

Examples• Plains• Highlands• Basins• Coastal