Region
A region is any group of places that share at least one similar
characteristic. Regions can be any size, and one location can be
a part of multiple regions. For example Bahrain is part of the
Gulf community, the Middle East, the Arabic speaking world.
There are 3 basic types of region
 Formal
 Functional
 Vernacular
A formal region is typically defined by a
government or administrative group for the purpose
of defining boundaries; these can include
straightforward political entities.
Formal regions
are reasonably static.
A functional region exists because of a specific function (or action) is present
within the spatial area of the region. This form of a region ceases to exist once
the relevant function exists.
A vernacular region exists based on people’s
perceptions. What is included in a region of this
form, even the existence of the region, may be
disputed; for example, the American South or the
civilized world. While not subjective, vernacular
regions are not wholly objective.
Movement
Movement is the travel of people, goods or ideas from one
location to another. The movement of people, the import
and export of goods and mass communication have all
played major roles in shaping our world. People
everywhere interact. They travel from place to place and they communicate.
Humans occupy places unevenly on Earth because of the
environment but also because we are social beings. We
interact with each other through travel, trade,
information flow and
political events.
Not only do humans move
but also ideas move;
fashions move; fads move.
We live in a global village
and a global economy.
Place
Place is a description of the characteristics that make a
certain location distinct. Places have both physical and
human characteristics. Every place has a unique
combination of physical and human characteristics. For
example the Great Pyramid of Giza, in Egypt, has
characteristics such as sand, heat and the pyramid.
Chichen Itza, in Mexico, also has a large pyramid but
also has other features such as lush vegetation and a
humid climate. The image that people have of a place is
based on the experiences of the individual, both
intellectual and emotional. People’s descriptions of a
place reveal their values, attitudes and perceptions.
Physical characteristics include landforms, vegetation and climate.
Human characteristics include the culture, economy and government of the people
who live there. They also include things like roads, clothing, buildings and food
habits.
Human-Environment Interaction
Human-Environment interaction is the complex interwoven
bond between humans and nature. There are 3 key
concepts to the human-environment interaction are

Humans adapt to the environment

Humans modify the environment

Humans depend on the environment
Examples of human-environment interaction include bridges, dams, the
mining industry and any structures built by or
destroyed by humans. People depend on the
nature for food, water and transportation. They
modify the environment by heating and cooling buildings.
They adapt to the environment by wearing appropriate
clothing for seasons and climate, and building structures that
suit the environment.
All places have both advantages and disadvantages for
human settlement. One person’s advantage may be
another person’s disadvantage. Environment is not just
fauna, flora and climate; it can also be a feeling. A city is
an environment.
Some people like remoteness, others
like an urban environment.
Location
Location is where something is. Location can be
either absolute or relative.
Absolute location is a geographic coordinate using
latitude and longitude to identify a global location,
or a street address for a local location. Bahrain is
located at 26˚N, 50˚E, a street address might be, 121 Ring Road, Westlands,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Relative location is the position of something in relation to another place. It is
often expressed in the form of directions, such as go 5 miles north and turn left,
or relation to a landmark, such as next to the blue building. Although relative
location is easy to obtain, the directions often mean nothing to someone who does
not know where the starting point is.
Location Vocabulary
Equator – the 0˚ line of latitude.
All lines of latitude run parallel to
the Equator, and are numbered
either north or south of the
Equator.
Latitude – the imaginary lines that
run horizontally around the globe.
These lines run from east to west.
One degree of latitude is
approximately 113 kilometres (70
miles)
Longitude – the imaginary lines that run vertically around the globe. These lines
run from north to south between the north and south poles. The lines of longitude
divide the world into segments like an orange, wide near the Equator, but narrow at
the poles.
North Pole - 90˚N – the place that all lines of longitude start.
Prime Meridian – the 0˚ line of longitude which runs through Greenwich, England.
All lines of longitude are numbered in degrees either east or west of the Prime
Meridian. The line directly opposite the Prime Meridian is numbered 180˚.
South Pole - 90˚S – the place that all lines of longitude finish
Tropic of Cancer – 23.5˚N – The line where the sun is directly overhead at noon
on June 21 (Summer in the northern hemisphere)
Tropic of Capricorn – 23.5˚S – The line where the sun is directly overhead at noon
on December 21 (Summer in the southern hemisphere)