Transcript SOL 3 - Quia

SOL 3
REGIONS
Regions are areas of Earth’s surface that
share unifying characteristics.
Geographers create and use regions as
organizing concepts to simplify the
world for study and understanding.
Physical Regions
Sahara
Taiga
Rain Forest
Great Plains Low Countries
Sahara
• Desert region in
northern Africa
• It’s growing due to
desertification
• Arable to Arid
Taiga
• Russian word for
forest
• It is the vegetation
usually found in a subarctic climate
• Evergreen forest
Rain Forest
• Vegetation often found
in tropical, wet
climates
• The largest one in the
world is found in
Brazil’s Amazon River
Basin
Great Plains
• An area in the
United States &
Canada just east
of the Rocky
Mountains that is
a great expanse
of flat prairie
land
• Refers to lowlying countries
along the
deltas of
important
rivers in
Europe,
including the
Rhine
• The countries
are the
Netherlands,
Belgium and
Luxembourg
Low Countries
Examples of Cultural Regions
Language
Ethnic
Religion
Economic
Political
Language
• Latin America – refers to
the culture region that
includes Mexico and
everything south.
• Spanish language and
Roman Catholic religion
is dominant
• Francophone World –
refers to communities of
people & countries that
speak French. Ex:
obviously, France &
Quebec, Canada
Ethnic
• Chinatowns – an area of a
city that has a large
Chinese population &
represents much of their
culture; they are most
common in the Untied
States & Southeast Asia
• Kurdistan – An area in
the Middle East that
covers parts of Iraq, Iran,
Turkey, Armenia, & Syria.
It is the homeland of the
Kurds, an ethnic group of
the region that desperately
wants their own,
independent nation.
Religion
• Islam – The Middle
East
• Buddhism – East &
Southeast Asia
Economic
• Wheat Belts – Areas where
wheat is a major crop & part of
the economy. There is one in
the Midwest United States and
southwest Australia
• European Union (EU) – An
organization of European
countries created in 1992 by the
Maastricht Treaty. Its purpose
is to unite Europe and its
policies
• Cover just about all aspects of
country operations including
health, economy, defense, etc.
• North Atlantic Treaty
organization (NATO) – A
political organization created in
1949 to encourage unity among
nations bordering the Atlantic
ocean, particularly in the area of
defense
• Organization of African Unity
(OAU) – A political
organization of African nations
created in 1963; it became
known as the African Unity in
2002. Its purpose was primarily
to promote unity among nations
of the continent and to
encourage liberation
movements while removing all
colonialism from the continent.
Political
Regional labels reflect people’s
perceptions of an area
Examples
• Middle East – refers to southwest
Asia, it is a crossroads of 3
continents; Europe, Asia, and
Africa
• Sun Belt – Southern United
States marked by increasing
population and a warm climate
• Rust Belt – Area in the
northeastern Untied States where
heavy industry has seen a decline
(such as steel) and has resulted in
negative effects on the economy
and population
Cultural
Characteristics
can LINK or
DIVIDE a
region!!
LANGUAGE
Arab Language
• The Arab world is
united by the Arabic
language.
Spanish Language
• Hispanic America is
united by the Spanish
language.
Portuguese Language
• Brazil is different from
the rest of South
America in that its
official language is
Portuguese…NOT
Spanish!
Canada’s Languages
• Canada has 2 official
languages: English
and French.
• In Quebec, they speak
French
• Language divides
Canada
Switzerland Language
• Switzerland has
multiple languages
and has blended them
with little conflict.
English Language
• English is considered
a world language, and
most official
international business
is done in English.
Example: treaties
Ethnic Heritage
There was ethnic conflict in the former
Yugoslavia between the Serbs, Croats,
Bosnians, and Albanians. They now
have individual nations.
On the continent of Africa, the countries
of Burundi and Rwanda suffer from
constant warfare between the Hutus and
the Tutsis, two opposing ethnic groups.
The Untied States and Switzerland are
multiple-ethnicity countries. They have
blended these carious ethnic groups,
while still maintaining unity.
Korea and Japan
share a
predominantly
single ethnicity;
however, Koreans
are divided by
government. North
Korea is communist
while South Korea
is democratic.
Religion as a unifying force
Monotheistic
Polytheistic
Judaism – Jews, Synagogue
(Temple)
Hinduism – Hindus,
Temples
Christianity – Christians,
Church
Buddhism – Buddhists,
Temples
Islam – Muslims, Mosque
(Minaret)
Judaism
• Jews
• Synagogue (Temple)
• Monotheistic
Christianity
• Christians
• Church
• Monotheistic
Islam
• Muslims
• Mosque (Minaret)
• Monotheistic
Hinduism
• Hindus
• Temples
• Polytheistic
Buddhism
• Buddhists
• Temples
• Polytheistic
Religion as a divisive force
The Hindus and Muslims fight in
India and Pakistan over a
territory known as Kashmir.
The Catholics and Protestants
fight in Northern Ireland.
(both branches of Christianity)
Jews, Christians, and Muslims all claim
Jerusalem, Israel as their religious heritage site,
which leads to conflict over control of the
region.
SOL 3
Regions
Mrs. Jeffers