Unit 1The Basics of Geography

Geography • Study of the distribution and interaction of physical and

human features on the earth

Physical Geography• Internal and external forces constantly change the earth’s

surface

Human Geography• the study of the interaction between human beings and their

environment in particular places and across spatial areas.

Five Themes of Geography

Location • Where is it?

Relative location • Describes a place in comparison to other places around it.

EQUATOR

• Divides the north and south lines of latitude

• Divides the east and west of longitude

PRIME MERIDIAN

Absolute Location The exact place on earth where a geographic feature

Five Themes Continued

Place• What is it like?

• Physical features

• Climate, landforms, vegetation

• Cultural characteristics

• Humans interacting with the environment

FORMAL

• Limited number of related characteristics

• Set of interactions and connections between places

FUNCTIONAL

Five Themes Continued Region

How are places similar or different?

Five Themes Continued

Human-Environment Interaction• How do people relate to the physical world?

• How people learn to use their environment to meet their needs

Movement • How do people, goods, and ideas move from one

location to another?

• People, goods, and ideas move from place to place

• Linear, time and psychological

Maps and Globes

Important tools

Maps Two dimensional representations of the

earth’s surface

Map Projections Lessens distortion

Different types Maps used different reasons.

Mercator Used by ship navigators

How do you identify it?

a. It is square

b. The latitude and longitude lines are at right angles

c. The top and bottom of the map are heavily distorted (Greenland is ginormous!)

Mercator

Polar Used by airline pilots because it shows the shortest

distance between two points

How do you identify it?

a. It is a circle

b. It only shows one hemisphere

c. The latitude lines are circles

d. The longitude lines radiate from the center

Polar

Robinson

Compares data.

How do you identify it?

a. It has curved sides

b. The longitude lines curve towards the north and south pole

Robinson

Political MapsMan-made features such as cities, states, provinces, territories, or countries

GlobesGlobes are three

dimensional representations of the earth

• Advantages of Maps

Cheaper than globes

Show detail

Show themes Thematic

Comparison

Atlas

Portable

• Advantages of Globes

More accurate than maps

Not distorted

Advantages of Maps and Globes