Transcript Introduction to Geography

Geo Journal 1 (ISN)
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Pick a place in the world that you have visited
(local, international). If you have not traveled
to another place, choose a special place
close to home.
Answer in your student section:
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What did you see in that place?
What was the landscape like?
What was the weather like?
What were the people like?
What was the vegetation (plants, flowers, trees)
or animals like?
Geography
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Study of the earth’s physical features & living
things-humans, animals, plants-that inhabit
the planet
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looks at where all elements are located & how
they are related to one another
Geographers are specialists who describe
earth’s physical, human features, &
interactions of people, places, &
environments
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For example, geographers may study volcanoes
& why they erupt or analyze a city’s location in
relations to climate, landscape, & available
transportations.
Continent-one of the seven large landmasses on
earth
Ocean- one of the four major bodies of salt water
© CSCOPE
2008
5 Themes of Geography
1.) Location
 2.) Place
 3.) Movement
 4.) Human-Environment Interaction
 5.) Region
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Remembering the 5 themes
 If
you can’t remembering what
they are just ask MR. HELP!!!
– Movement
R – Regions
HE – Human Environment
interaction
L – Location
P - Place
M
LOCATION
Where are we?
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Absolute
Location
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Exact spot at which a
place is found on the
globe (longitude,
latitude, equator,
hemisphere(s)
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Paris France is 48o
North Latitude and 2o
East Longitude.
The White House is
located at 1600
Pennsylvania Ave.
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Relative Location
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Described by
landmarks, time,
direction or distance.
From one place to
another.
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Go 1 mile west on
main street and turn
left for 1 block.
Equator-line circling the earth midway
between North & South Poles, divides
the earth into hemispheres
Hemispheres- two halves (Northern &
Southern) (Eastern & Western)
Lines of Latitude & Longitude
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Latitude
Lines of parallels that
circle earth’s equator
Measures distance from
north or south in degrees
North Pole 90° N (North)
South Pole 90° S (South)
Longitude
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Lines of meridians that
circles the earth from pole
to pole
Measures distance east &
west
Prime Meridian at 0°
longitude
PLACE
What is it like there, what kind of place is it?
 Human
Characteristics
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What are the main
languages, customs,
and beliefs.
How many people live,
work, and visit a place.
 Physical
Characteristics
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Landforms (mountains,
rivers, etc.), climate,
vegetation, wildlife, soil,
etc.
MOVEMENT
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How are people, goods, ideas moved from
place to place?
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Human Movement
 Trucks,
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Trains, Planes
Information Movement
 Phones,
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computer (email), mail
Idea Movement
 How
do ads move from place to place?
TV, Radio, Magazines
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT
INTERACTION
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Study of interrelationship between people
& physical environment
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We depend on it.
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We modify it.
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People depend on the Tennessee River for water and
transportation.
People modify our environment by
heating and cooling buildings for comfort.
We adapt to it.
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We adapt to the environment by wearing
clothing suitable for summer (shorts) and
winter (coats), rain and shine.
Regions
Earth is divided into regions
 Each region has its own characteristics
 Either physical or human
characteristics
 3 Common Forms of Regions
 Formal
 Functional
 Perceptual
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Formal Region
Most important region
 Formal Region has clear boundaries and is
usually defined by a single characteristic
 Ex: Low rainfall, climate, religion,
common government
 Any distinct area based on one
characteristic (physical or human)
 Sometimes called Uniform Region
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Functional Region
 Area
defined by one function that may
cross political boundaries
 Often organized around a focal point
such as a city or metropolitan
 Ex: a drainage basin of a great river
connection several states
Perceptual Region
 Based
on peoples attitudes and
emotions about a place
 Reflects feelings such as physical
features, formal political boundaries &
economic centers
 Ex: “The Big Apple” (New York City),
El Chuco Town (El Paso)
VIDEO: FORMAL, FUNCTIONAL
AND PERCEPTUAL REGIONS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LVXiM_u_UM