Basic Geography

What is geography? Geography: the study of Earth’s surface and the processes that shape it, the connections between places, and the relationships between people and their environment

Compass Rose

Legend (key)

Map Scale

Map

The Continents Seven Continents: North America South America Europe Asia Oceania (Australia) Africa Antarctica

The Seven Continents

The Oceans 4 Oceans (sometimes 5) Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Indian Ocean Arctic Ocean (The Southern Ocean)

The Oceans

Types of Maps Physical maps- they show physical features. Ex’s: mountains, hills, rivers, plains, lakes, oceans, etc. Political maps- show countries, states, provinces, counties, towns, districts, cities. Historical maps- show things like economic activity, migrations, battles, national boundaries.

Lines of Longitude Longitude is a way to measure the east-west distance on Earth. Imaginary lines that run north to south Called "meridians.“ The Prime Meridian passes through the North Pole, the South Pole, and Greenwich, England. It is measured from 0 longitude, also called the Prime Meridian.

Lines of Longitude

Lines of Latitude Latitude- A way to measure the distance north or south of the Earth’s Equator. Known as “parallels” The Equator is at 0° latitude The North Pole is at 90°N. The South Pole is at 90°S.

Tropics Tropic of Cancer & Tropic of Capricorn- Area between these two lines of latitude in the middle of the earth that is warm all year round

Lines of Latitude

The Hemispheres Northern Southern Eastern Western Equator: line of latitude that separates the Northern and Southern hemispheres Prime Meridian: line of longitude that separates the Eastern and Western hemispheres

The Hemispheres

Themes of Geography 1. Location Absolute location- longitude & latitude coordinates are used ex: Phoenix is 33* north latitude and 112* west longitude Relative location- where an area is in relation to another area ex: California lies on the west coast, next to the Pacific Ocean

Themes of Geography 2. Region- Dividing up sections of a continent, country, or even a neighborhood. Regions have certain characteristics- political divisions, climate, language, or religion Examples?

Themes of Geography 3. Place- Physical and human factors that make one area different from another Physical characteristics- physical setting, plants, animals, weather Human characteristics- cultural diversity, language, the arts, and architecture Ex: African Americans, Hispanics, Polish, and different Asian cultures live in Chicago

Themes of Geography 4. Movement-the moving of people, goods, and ideas from one place to another 5. Human-Environment Interaction: the way in which people interact with their environment. Ex: cutting down a tree or building a “man made lake”