Thinking Spatially

Spatial Thinking Geography is more than just names on a map Spatial thinking --- the space on earth’s surface Where places are Why place are where they are

Ask Geographic Questions Geographers use spatial thinking to understand the significance of a place For example, New York’s location is important. Being near the water was good for trade. Can you name any other places whose location is important?

Geographic Patterns Asking questions help geographers find patterns Example: Cities near water Geographic Information Systems (GIS): used to create maps and analyze patterns using many layers of data

The Five Themes of Geography Identification

5 Themes & Geographic Questions MOVEMENT HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ INTERACTION PLACE LOCATION REGION

Location – determining the position of a place on the earth’s surface Absolute location – precise positioning – latitude and longitude are the best. GIS gives this new meaning Automobile systems linked to satellites Relative location – describing in relation to other, known places such as landmarks and unusual, easily recognizable features. Used by most people in giving directions

RELATIVE ABSOLUTE From UMSL, drive north on South Florissant Road through Ferguson. Continue north past I-270. At the second stop light, you should see a log cabin and tennis court and large water tank on the left side of the road. Continue to the next street, St. Catherine. You will see a Sinclair Oil gas station on the left. Immediately across the street is a small strip shopping center. The center store is Old Town Donuts. Make a right turn into the parking lot and go in. Where is 38º N and 95ºW?

Place – those features that give character to a location (a degree of uniqueness). Physical place – natural features – what nature provides – climate, landforms, vegetation, etc. Can many places no longer be called physical places – where might the human influence be absent today? This relates to the theme of human/environment interaction. Human (cultural) place – features added by humans – distinctive dress, architecture, language, religion, burial practices, agricultural practices, etc.

HUMAN PLACE PHYSICAL PLACE PRODUCED BY HUMANS Distinctive type of boat associated with south Pacific islands CREATED MAINLY BY NATURE Arid area with exotic stream at the foot of a great escarpment or mountain range.

HUMAN PLACE PHYSICAL PLACE CREATED BY NATURE Volcanic mountains which influence soil fertility and present hazardous living conditions PRODUCED BY HUMANS Distinctive type of dress, musical instrument & music

Human/Environment Interaction Human adaptations to natural conditions. Heavy coats in winter Elevated housing in areas prone to flooding Changes in natural conditions made by humans. Digging canals Changing the vegetation – farming, etc.

HUMANS ADAPT - HUMANS CHANGE Humans had to adapt their construction methods to the arctic environment when they built the Alaska pipeline. Faster, easier transportation was important enough for them to construct tunnels through the mountains.

Humans change things The Netherlands versus the Sea. Humans have reclaimed land from the sea at least for now

Movement – the transfer of material and non material things from place to place Material things – involving tangible objects transported in a variety of ways Animal and animal-powered means Land, water, and air vehicles Non-material things – information, power, culture traits Fashions, trends, fads, etc. Electronic media, etc.

MATERIAL NONMATERIAL Material objects (cargo & passengers) are transferred from one place to another by an airplane. Nonmaterial entity (data, pictures, & conversations) move invisibly from one place to many others.

Regions – mental constructs expressing some commonality or uniformity Formal Regions – possesses a single common feature or a limited combination of features throughout the area Political units such as states and counties Functional Regions – An operational unit based on organization, structure, and interactions The hinterland of a major city

FORMAL REGION The different colors stand for territory added to Russia during different periods of time. The common feature for each color is the time period in which it was added to Russia.

FUNCTIONAL REGION Coal mining is at the heart of the economy of all these counties. Many factors are related to the coal mining industry. The deposits influence movement and settlement patterns.

Different sets of criteria produce different versions of a region Common core area All three are anchored around a core area, but the peripheral areas of the regions differ markedly.

Human Place & Interaction

Physical Place

Human/ Environment Interaction and Human Place

Movement, Interaction, Urban Region,

Movement, interaction, physical place (distance), human place foreground?????????

Physical place

Physical place,

Interaction, Physical place, movement

Human place, physical place

Human place

Human place

Absolute location, relative location

Human place

Human place, interaction

Physical place, interaction????? – banana trees? -- plantation edge???????

Human place, movement, relative location if flag is recognizqable

Physical place, human place, interaction, movement

Human place, interaction

Human place, movement

Physical place, movement, interaction,

Interaction, movement

Human place, relative location, movement, interaction

Human place, relative location

Interaction, movement, human place, physical place

Six Essential Elements Some geographers identify essential elements to study physical processes and human systems. The World in Spatial Terms Places and Regions Physical Systems Human Systems Environment and Society The Uses of Geography

World Regions

Regions and Continents Geographers divide the world into different regions Each regions is shaped by shared physical and human processes Region: group of places with common traits Ex. Trade, culture, and other human activities

Regions and Continents Regions usually include an entire continent Continent: large landmass on Earth’s surface (7) Geographers also study things like ocean currents or how one region affects another

Regions and Continents 11 Regions we will study: North America Central American and the Caribbean South America Europe Russia and the Eurasian Republics Southwest Asia and North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa South Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Australia, the Pacific Realm, and Antartica