What is Geography?
Unit 1
Chapter 1
Vocabulary
• Location
• Absolute Location
•Hemisphere
• Grid System
• Relative Location
• Place
• Region
• Formal Region
• Functional Region
• Perceptual Region
• Ecosystem
• Movement
• Human Environment
Interaction
• Physical Geography
•Human Geography
•Meteorology
• Cartography
• Geographic Information
Systems(GIS)
Geography
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Geography is the study of the distribution and
interaction of physical and human features on
the earth
Geographers are specialists who describe
Earth’s physical and human features and the
interactions of people, places, and
environments.
What are some tools geographers might use to
describe Earth?
Maps
Maps
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Topographic- shows natural and man-made
features on earth
Thematic- shows information
Navigation- maps air and sea- navigators would
use these
Thematic Map of Africa
Navigation Map
5 Themes of Geography
Also known as Elements
1. Location
2. Place
3. Region
4. Movement
5. Human-Environment Interaction
Theme 1- Location
Spatial Relations- how places, people,
and features of the Earth are connected
 There are 2 types

Absolute Location- exact latitude and
longitude at which a place is found on the
globe
 Relative Location- describes a place’s
location in relation to another place
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Absolute and Relative

Absolute of Spartanburg County:
Latitude- 34.93163 North
 Longitude- 81.99075 West
-The entire county goes from approximately 35.2 to
34.6 degrees north and 82.2 to 81.7 degrees
west
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Relative Location
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Relative to other states: East of GA, North of
FL, SE of TN, South of VA
Relative to other counties- North of Newberry,
Lexington, Saluda, West of Cherokee, York,
Chester, East of Greenville
Relative to bodies of water: East Saluda and
Reedy, west of Broad
Relative to landmarks- South of Chimney Rock,
east of Table rock
Relative
http://images.google.com/
“around the corner, past
the Wal-Mart and
across the street from
the barber shop.”
When is it useful to know the absolute or relative
location of a place?
Theme 2- Place
Place- a particular space on Earth with
physical and human meaning
Place Types are based on human
characteristics and physical characteristics
Human include: bridges, buildings, language,
modes of transportation, and religion
Physical include: landforms, climate, wildlife,
bodies of water, and vegetation
Physical and Human Systems
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Physical systems- volcanoes, floods, and
hurricanes shape the Earth’s surface
Human systems- people affect the Earth by
settling it, forming societies, and migrating.
People also move goods and ideas to new
places.
What historical movements of people and
ideas have changed the US and World?
Theme 3- Region
A region, larger than a place, is a group of places
that are united by shared characteristics. 3
Types
1. Formal/Uniform- area defined by a common
characteristic
2. Functional- central place and the outlying
areas linked to it by transit systems
3. Perceptual- defined by popular feelings and
images rather than by objective data
Region
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Places that are connected  3 categories
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Cultural (Bible belt)
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Political (conservative south)
Economic (rustbelt)
Physical (sunbelt)
Formal
Function
Perceptual
Theme 4- Movement
Movement- How goods, cultures, and rituals
migrate from place to place.
3 Types of Movement
a. people
b. goods
c. ideas
Theme 5- Human-Environment Interaction
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Pertains to how the environment and
people effect each other
People depend on the environment- it
dictates what type of crops we grow.
People modify the environment- clear land
and plant crops on it
People adapt to the environment- wear
certain types of clothing according to the
season
Map Skills
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Why are all map projections distorted?
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The earth is round, and maps are flat, so the
earth’s curves cannot be accurately shown on a
map
Map Projections
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Mercator- used for ship navigation
Polar (Azimuthal)- used for air travel
Robinson- used in classrooms
Mercator Map
Polar (Azimuthal) Map
Robinson Map
Map Directions
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Cardinal directions- north, south, east, and
west
Intermediate directions- southeast,
southwest, northeast, northwest
Hemispheres
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The world is divided
into hemispheres by
latitude and longitude
lines
The Equator divides
north and south, while
the Prime Meridian
divides east and west
Reading Maps
There are 8 key elements that you
need to know when reading a map
Reading Maps
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Title- explains subject of map
Compass Rose- shows orientation
Labels- words or phrases that explain map
features
Legend-Lists and explains the symbols
and use of color on a map
Labels and Compass Rose
Reading Maps
Latitude Lines-Run horizontal from the
equator out on both sides of the globe
(mark north and south positions)
 Longitude Lines- Run vertical from the
prime meridian out on both sides of the
globe (mark east and west positions)
 Scale- Ruler-like line that shows the
lengths of earth distance units on the map
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Longitude (left) and Latitude (right)
What do Geographers do?
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Observe
Map (cartography)
Interview
Create and use
statistics
Technology (GIS
and GPS)