What is
Geography?
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What is Geography?
1. Essential Concepts
2. Writings of Earth
3. The study of spatial variation
4. How – and why – things differ from place to
place on the surface of the earth
5. The study of how observable spatial patterns
evolved through time
What is geography?
• Geography is a spatial science
• Spatial behavior of people
• Spatial relationships between
places
• Spatial processes that create or
maintain those behaviors and
relationships
Geography: Defining the
Discipline
• What is geography?
• What topics do
geographers study?
• What makes geography
different from other
disciplines?
Geography:
Defining the Discipline
• Geographia (Greek origins)
– Geo (earth) + graphein (to describe or write)
– To write or describe the surface of the earth
• The study of the spatial arrangement and
association among elements on and/or in
contact with the earth’s surface
• Explaining the “big picture”
Geography:
Defining the Discipline
• Three Essential questions…
– What is located where?
– Why are things located where they
are?
– What is the significance?
Modern Geography: Traditions
•
•
•
•
Spatial distributions of physical and
cultural features
Relationship between people and the
environment
Existence and evolution of regions
Physical characteristics of the earth
Geography:
Defining the Discipline
• Linkage with the
physical sciences
and social sciences
• Interdisciplinary
• Variation across
space
• Degree of human
impact assessment
Human Geography
• Study of the relationship of human beings
and their activities (past or present) to the
surrounding environment and the
consequences of these interactions
• Focuses more on…
– The cultural characteristics of a place
– The processes that influence or shape that
place
– The interconnectedness of those places
Tools of the Trade
• Visual Representation
– Cartography
– Remote Sensing
– Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Qualitative Techniques
– Surveys
– Personal Interviews
• Spatial Quantitative Methods
Patterns and Distributions
Example: 2003 West Nile Virus
Incidence
Medical Geography
Biogeography
Climatology
The Geographic Perspective
• Understanding the ways in which humankind
perceives and interacts with the Earth’s
surface, its resources, and its people
• Geography lies at the intersection of both
social and physical sciences
• Explain the processes that give rise to spatial
distributions---it’s not all about maps!
• Geographic landscapes are social creations
Geographical Method
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• What province or territory has one of the world’s
greatest stores of dinosaur bones?
• The area near Drumheller,
Alberta, is the best place
to look for dinosaur bones
in Canada.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• In 2014, the CBC ran a series of television
programs that asked Canadians to choose the
Greatest Canadian of all time. Who was chosen
for this honour?
• Former premier of
Saskatchewan
Tommy Douglas
was chosen for his
role in establishing
medicare.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• Canada is the second largest country in the world.
What country is larger in area than Canada?
• Russia is about as big as Canada and Australia
combined.
1
9
2
4
10
7
3
5
8
6
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• Which hockey team has won the Stanley Cup
most often?
• The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley
Cup 24 times, making them the winningest team
in sports history.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• In 2014, Canada’s foreign trade was
approximately…
–
–
–
–
–
$90 million per hour
$90 million per day
$90 million per week
$90 million per month
$90 million per year
• $90 million per hour!
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• Which prime minister has been in power for the
longest period of time?
• The Right Honourable
William Lyon Mackenzie
King was Prime Minister
for almost 22 years.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• Which of these materials is not mined in Canada?
–
–
–
–
–
gold
copper
diamonds
tin
coal
• Tin is not mined in
Canada.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• What is the name of Canada’s newest territory
and its capital city?
• In 1999, the Territory
of Nunavut was
created, and Iqaluit
was chosen as its
capital city.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• Which of these people is not Canadian?
–
–
–
–
–
actor Kiefer Sutherland
singer Shania Twain
actor Angelina Jolie
golfer Mike Weir
singer Avril Lavigne
• Despite her French
name, Angelina
Jolie was born in
Los Angeles, USA.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• Which province joined Canada in 1949?
• Newfoundland
joined Canada in
1949. In 2001, the
province’s name
was officially
changed to
Newfoundland and
Labrador.
and LABRADOR
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• What is the name of the highest award that
Canada gives for outstanding achievement and
service to the country?
• The Order of Canada has three levels: Member
(CM), Officer (OC), and Companion (CC).
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• What is the name of the longest river in Canada?
• The Mackenzie
River in the
Northwest
Territories is
4241 km long.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• Other than the United Kingdom and France, what
country is the origin of the greatest number of
Canadian residents?
• Many people are
surprised to find that
Germany is the
third largest source
of Canadians.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• In terms of value, what is Canada’s most
important export commodity?
• Cars, trucks, and
auto parts are our
most important
exports. In 2014, we
sold more than $90
billion worth—
primarily to the
United States.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• In what province or territory is Canada’s highest
mountain?
• Mount Logan is in
Yukon Territory
and stands an
impressive 5959
metres above sea
level.
Introduction to Geography Quiz
• One of the celebrities mentioned in Question #9 is
a relative of the person chosen as the Greatest
Canadian (Question #2). Which celebrity is it, and
what is their relationship?
• Kiefer Sutherland is Tommy
Douglas’s grandson. Kiefer’s
parents, both actors, are Shirley
Douglas (Tommy’s daughter)
and Donald Sutherland.
Mind Map of Canada
• On a blank sheet of paper, draw a map of Canada
as close to reality as possible. Do this on your
own – without looking at other people’s maps or
any reference material such as an atlas.
• On your map, label what you regard as important
features, such as provinces, cities, mountain
ranges, and bodies of water.
Mind Map of Canada
1. Which parts of Canada do you know best?
2. Which parts of your map are most incomplete?
3. Do you feel it is important to know where places
are in Canada? Explain.
What is Geography?
• Geography is the science that tries to understand
how the Earth works and how humans change it.
– This science examines the Earth’s surface and the
processes that shape it.
– Geography especially looks at the relationship
between people and the Earth’s physical environment.
– To understand our relationship with the Earth,
geographers ask questions and search for answers to
problems. By exploring these problems, we can make
better, wiser decisions.
What is Geography?
• Geographers try to answer three questions:
– Where are things located on Earth?
– What are the connections between people and the
Earth?
– How can we illustrate this information to understand it
better?
• Geography has two main focuses:
– The Earth’s physical geography (natural things)
– The Earth’s human geography (people and things
related to people such as cities)