How They Help us Study GeographyHow They Help us Study Geography

Gk. geographia "description of the earth's surface," from geo- "earth" + -graphia "description“

Geography: The study of the earth and its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and the effects of human activity.

What is Geography?

The 5 Themes offer a structured way of thinking about the world and can be used to study all kinds of geographic issues.LocationPlaceHuman InteractionMovementRegion

What are the 5 Themes?

Location: Where is it?Two Types:AbsoluteRelative

Location

Absolute Location: its exact position on the globe. Geographers use Latitude and Longitude

Location

Latitude: Imaginary lines that circle the Earth parallel to the equator. They:Measure distance north or south of the equatorEquator is 0° LatitudeSometimes called ParallelsLines north of the equator are labeled N and lines south of the equator are labeled S

Location

Location

Longitude: Imaginary lines east and west of the Prime Meridian (Long. Line that goes through Greenwich, UK). They:Go from pole to poleMeasure distance east or west of the Prime MeridianLines east of the PM are labeled with an E. Lines west of the PM are labeled with a W.

Relative Location: Where a place is located in relation to other places (yourself).

Location

Place: What is it like there?Physical Features: Refers to things in nature that make a place unique

Climate Mountains Bodies of Water

Human Characteristics: Refers to aspects of the humans in a specific place

Religion Language Customs

Place

Human Interaction: What is the relationship between people and their environment?How have humans destroyed the environmentHow have humans improved the environment

*Humanity doesn’t always do the right thing! We affect our environment even when we don’t realize it.

Human Interaction

The Aral Sea Prior to 1960:Borders Kazakhstan and UzbekistanFormerly one of the world’s 4 largest lakesOnce a populated fishing areaOver 26,000 sq. miles

Aral Sea

The Aral Sea Now:10% of it’s original sizeMostly a salt desertFilled with pesticidesRiddled with abandoned boats

Aral Sea

The Soviet Union rerouted all the rivers to

support the cotton farms Pesticides were put into the soil to promote

healthy cotton growth The salt content grew since new water was not

being flushed in Fish cannot survive in the remaining waters,

plants cannot be planted where the water used to be

Industry is now destroyed

Why Did this Happen?

Movement: How are people and places connected?Communication:

Internet Phones Mail

Movement of People and Goods: Cars Planes Boats Walking (or NOT)

Movement

Name some of the most important inventions that changed communication:

Name some of the most important inventions that changed transportation:

Movement

Region

Region: How is the world divided/Unified?Physical Regions

Andes Mountains Mississippi River Basin Ring of Fire

Human Regions Countries Religions Languages

Examples

Look at the maps and try to guess the regions:

Examples

Examples

Examples

Examples

Examples

Look at the maps and try to guess the regions: