What is Geography?

What is Geography? Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.

Geography Human World Natural World

The Branches Mathematical Geography Human Geography Physical Geography Studies the Earth’s surface as it is mapped Human Geography Studies the things that man does Physical Geography Studies the earth’s processes

The Five Themes of Geography Location Place Human/Environment Interaction Movement Regions

Location Where are things located? A location can be absolute Longitude and latitude [49 16N 123 07W] or an address Or, it can be relative It's next to the Cooper’s on HWY 33.

Location Latitude: Longitude: The distance of any point north or south of the equator, measured up to 90 degrees. Longitude: The distance of any point east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured up to 180 degrees.

Place What makes a place different from other places? Flat land! Mountains!

Place Place refers to the physical and human features that are found on our earth Physical: mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes Human: cities, roads, dams, bridges

Human/Environment Interaction How do people interact with and change their environment? How humans react to their surroundings We do it by: a. adapting b. modifying c. depending …on our environment

Adapting to our Environment by building houses and other buildings for shelter by organizing cities and towns near water and/or other resources we need by building roads and bridges to get around                                                                                                                                                                      

Modifying our Environment by clear cutting, mining, building dams, and by mowing the lawn! Anything we do to change the structure of our environment…

Depending on our Environment For water, air, and natural resources we use

Movement How are people and places linked by communication and the flow of people, ideas and goods? Movement is the transportation of an object from one place to another In geography, we move: a. ideas b. people c. goods

Ideas Movement of ideas can be: -Language: slang terms (phat), foreign words (jihad) -Religion: Buddhism moved from India to China -Music: rap music made its way from the American South

People People move across provinces, countries, and continents They bring with them their Beliefs (religious) Culture (stories, songs, art) Technology (tools, methods)

Goods Goods are things that can be bought and sold Can be transported by sea, land and air Examples: Clothing Cars Textiles (food) CD’s

Regions How can the Earth be divided into regions for study? A region is an area where certain characteristics prevail. Regions allow for geographers to organize information based on the Earth’s surface.

Regions Regions formed by human characteristics: China town, Jerusalem Regions formed by physical characteristics: Rocky Mountains, Sahara Desert

Regions