The Basics of Geography

Part 1

The 5 Themes of Geography

What is Geography?The word “geography” comes from the Greek word geographia, meaning “to describe the earth.”

Modern GEOGRAPHY is the study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth.

5 Themes of Geography• Location

• Place

• Movement

• Human-Environment Interaction

• Region

LOCATIONAsks the question, “Where is it?”

RELATIVE LOCATION – Gives a general idea of where something is.

ABSOLUTE LOCATION – Gives a pinpoint, exact location

Relative Location

North Dakota is located in the northern part of the continental

United States.

Absolute Location

Can be pinpointed

exactly using

latitude and longitude.

PLACEAsks the question, “What is it like?”

This includes both the physical features and cultural characteristics of a location. Things like climate, vegetation, landforms, and human interaction would all be things that describe “place”.

MOVEMENTAsks the question, “How do people, goods, and ideas move from one location to another?”

Linear Distance

Time Distance

Psychological Distance

The U. S. Interstate System

• Linear Distance simply means how far a person, idea, or product has to travel.

• Time Distance refers to how long it takes to get there.

• Psychological Distance refers to how people view distance. Studies show that the more familiar we become with a place, we think it is closer.

Linear Distance can be affected by barriers such as rivers, mountains, or oceans. Time Distance has been greatly influenced by modern inventions. In the 1840s, traveling from New York to California took 6 months. It now takes under 6 hours. Psychological Distance may influence decisions about many different human activities.

Across the world, people make important choices based on Linear, Time, and

Psychological Distances.

HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

Asks the question, “How do people relate to their physical world?”

People learn to use what the environment offers them. They can either change the environment to fit their needs, or they can live with the aspects they cannot control.

Lower Manhattan in the 1660s

New York City August 2001

Notice the growth outward from

lower Manhattan.

REGION

Asks the question, “How are places similar or different?”

Regions are areas of earth with similar characteristics, such as physical, political, economic, or cultural.

The “Traditional” Four Regions of the United States

Regions may

also be divided

into sub-

regions.

Some regions of Utah

This map divides Utah

into 6 Regions:

The WestWasatch FrontThe NortheastThe Central

Canyon CountryDixie

The National Football League

Major League Baseball is divided into two leagues, with West, Central, and East Divisions