• What is Geography?
Geography: The study of the physical and cultural features of Earth’s surface
• What is Geography?
• Physical Geography: The study of the Earth’s natural environment and features
• What is Geography?
• Human Geography: The study of people, where they live, and how they interact with the
planet
• Physical Geography or Human Geography?
• THE FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY
• Location
• Place
• Human-Environment Interaction
• Movement
• Regions
• Location: Where are we?
Absolute location: A latitude and longitude location or street address
• Location: Where are we?
Relative location: Described in relation to other landmarks, distance, or time
• Place: What is it like there?
Human Characteristics
– How many people live there? What kind of people live there?
• Place: What is it like there?
Physical Characteristics
– Landforms, climate, vegetation, wildlife, etc.
• HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
We depend on it: We use the Mississippi River to transport goods
• HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
We modify it: We use A/C to cool down our buildings
• HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
We adapt to it: Cold Obama, Warm Obama
• Movement: How are people, goods, and ideas moved?
Human Movement
– Cars, Trucks, Trains, Planes
• Movement: How are people, goods, and ideas moved?
Information Movement
– Phones, computers, mail
• Movement: How are people, goods, and ideas moved?
Idea Movement
– TV, Movies, Books, Magazines
• Regions
• Region: An area with one or more common features that make it different from surrounding
areas
Formal region
Functional region
Perceptual region
• Regions
• Formal Region: A region defined by a governmental or physical boundary
Countries and states
Rocky Mountain Region (Physical)
• Regions
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Functional Region: A region made up of different places that are linked and function as a unit
Highway I-35 links seven different states
Cell phone coverage area
Greater Austin area
Regions
Perceptual Region: A region that reflects human feelings and attitudes
The Midwest
The Middle East
“Rangers/Astros Country”
Formal Region: A region defined by official boundaries
Functional Region: Connected by similar characteristics
Perceptual Region: A region that reflects human feelings and attitudes (no formal boundaries
but are understood)
Remembering the 5 themes
If you can’t remembering what they are just ask MR. HELP!!!
M – Movement
R – Regions
HE – Human Environment interaction
L – Location
P - Place