CHAPTER 1 Let’s Talk Geography 1

Geography The study of the earth’s physical features and how they relate to living things. 2

Physical Cultural Natural features on the earth, such as mountains, rivers, and oceans. Features on the earth created by people, such as boundaries, towns, and roads. Types of Geography 3

Brasstown Bald 4

Okefenokee Swamp 5

Chattahoochee River 6

County Boundaries 7

Relative Location The position of one place in relation to another. Example: Georgia is closer to Florida than Arkansas. 8

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Cardinal & Intermediate Directions Cardinal: Four main points on a campus, North, West, East, and South Intermediate: Four main directional points between the cardinal directions. NW, SW, NE, SE. 10

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Absolute Location The exact spot on the earth’s surface where a place is found. We use a grid and coordinates to find our location.  The lines we use are called latitude and longitude. 12

360 The latitude and longitude are divided into 360 degrees. Degrees are divided into minutes and minutes are divided into seconds.  That is how we find absolute location.  34°6′5″N, 84°31′10″W 13

34°6′5″N, 84°31′10″W 14

34°6′5″N, 84°31′10″W 15

34°6′5″N, 84°31′10″W 16

34°6′5″N, 84°31′10″W 17

Latitude Determine location north and south of the Equator. They are always parallel with the equator. The equator is 0 and the lines go to 90 degrees N and 90 degrees S 18

Lines of Latitude 19

Longitude Lines that measure our E and W location. Prime Meridian marks 0 degrees and the International Date Line marks 180 degrees The lines are not parallel because they converge at the poles. 20

Lines of Longitude 21

Time Zones Time Zones are approximately 15 degrees apart. It takes about 1 hour for the earth to rotate 15 degrees. There are 24 hours in a day…There are 24 time zones in the world 22

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Global Positioning System Position is read by 3-4 satellites at any one time. Used by militaries for improving accuracy. Used by the public to find a location while travelling. 25

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Regions A term used to describe an area of the earth that is alike in ways that make it distinct from other areas of the earth. Do not have exact boundaries, but people agree on the general area. Share characteristics  Can be as small as a building to as large as a hemisphere. 27

Types of Regions Geographic  South, Deep South, Sun Belt Political Regions  Area of land that has legal boundaries  Urban Population of at least 2500  Suburban Heavily populated residential areas outside of cities 28

Types of Regions Rural  City with less than 2500 residents Metro Areas  Central city has a population of 50,000  Includes counties that has 25% of population work in the central city.  Cherokee County is considered part of Metro Atlanta. 29