What is Geography?A Basic Geography

Lesson

Francisci WG.1

What is Geography?Why study Geography?

• Geography is the study of Earth’s landscapes, peoples, places and environments.

• Geography is an education for life and for living.

• Learning geography helps us all to be more socially and environmentally sensitive, informed and responsible citizens and employees.

Geography inform us about…

• The places and communities in which we live.

• The pressures our natural environments face.

• The interconnectedness of the world.• How the world is changing globally and

locally.• The choices that exist in managing our

future world.

Geography Basics• A continent is one of several very large landmasses on

Earth.• The Seven Continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia,

Europe, North America and South America.

Geography Basics• An ocean is a body of water that composes much of a

planet’s hydrosphere.• 5 Oceans of the Earth: Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Indian,

Southern oceans.

Geography Basics• Latitude: Location north or

south of the Equator, measured by imaginary lines called parallels numbered in degrees north or south.

• Important lines of Latitude:Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, Antarctic Circle

Geography Basics

• Longitude: Location east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured by imaginary lines called meridians numbered in degrees east or west.

• Prime Meridian: Zero degrees longitude.

Geography Basics• Hemisphere: a half of the earth, usually as divided into

northern and southern halves by the equator, or into western and eastern halves by an imaginary line passing through the poles.

• Hemispheres of Earth: Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western.