5 Basic Themes of 5 Basic Themes of GeographyGeography

LocationLocation

A position on the earth's surface.A position on the earth's surface.

Absolute LocationAbsolute Location - the specific - the specific location of a place on the earth's location of a place on the earth's surface expressed through the use of surface expressed through the use of a coordinate system such as latitude a coordinate system such as latitude and longitude.and longitude.

Relative LocationRelative Location - the location of a - the location of a place expressed in relation to another place expressed in relation to another place.place.

Nature of PlaceNature of Place The physical and human The physical and human

characteristics that make a place characteristics that make a place unique. To help you determine these unique. To help you determine these characteristics look at a place characteristics look at a place through: through:

The Five Lenses of GeographyThe Five Lenses of Geography (PEEPS)(PEEPS)

PPhysicalhysicalEconomicEconomicEnvironmentalEnvironmentalPoliticalPoliticalSocial / CulturalSocial / Cultural

Human-Environment InteractionHuman-Environment Interaction

The way humans… The way humans… – depend upon, depend upon, – adapt to, and adapt to, and – modify modify

……the environment.the environment.

MovementMovement

The varied patterns in the The varied patterns in the movement of life forms, ideas, movement of life forms, ideas, and materials. and materials. 

RegionsRegions

Basic units of study that define Basic units of study that define an area with certain human an area with certain human (cultural) and/or physical (cultural) and/or physical (natural) characteristics.(natural) characteristics.

Applying the 5 Themes of Applying the 5 Themes of Geography to Surrey, BCGeography to Surrey, BC

LocationLocation Absolute LocationAbsolute Location: Surrey is : Surrey is

located in southwestern British located in southwestern British Columbia, Canada at 49° 10' N, Columbia, Canada at 49° 10' N, 122° 50' W. 122° 50' W.

Relative LocationRelative Location: Central Surrey : Central Surrey is approximately 30km southeast is approximately 30km southeast of downtown Vancouver.of downtown Vancouver.

Nature of Place Nature of Place Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics

- Surrey is approximately 370 square kilometers in area - Surrey is approximately 370 square kilometers in area which equals the size of Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby which equals the size of Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby combined.combined.- The City consists of upland areas with glacial deposits and - The City consists of upland areas with glacial deposits and lowland areas with fertile river deposits (see map below).lowland areas with fertile river deposits (see map below).- The Fraser river flows by the community to the north and - The Fraser river flows by the community to the north and the Nicomekl and Serpentine rivers empty into Boundary the Nicomekl and Serpentine rivers empty into Boundary Bay in South Surrey.Bay in South Surrey.- There are forested areas in the community (i.e. within - There are forested areas in the community (i.e. within parks).parks).- Surrey has a maritime climate with moderate - Surrey has a maritime climate with moderate temperatures and wet winters. The average summer temperatures and wet winters. The average summer temperature is approximately 22 degrees Celsius in temperature is approximately 22 degrees Celsius in comparison to five degrees Celsius during the winter. The comparison to five degrees Celsius during the winter. The city receives just over 1000 mm of precipitation annually. city receives just over 1000 mm of precipitation annually. North Surrey though receives more precipitation than the North Surrey though receives more precipitation than the southern portion of the city due to the orographic effect of southern portion of the city due to the orographic effect of the mountains to the north.the mountains to the north.

Nature of PlaceNature of Place Economic Economic

CharacteristicsCharacteristics- Surrey has a - Surrey has a diversified diversified economic profile economic profile

commercial services, commercial services, industrial sector, industrial sector, port facilities, port facilities, residential residential

construction, construction, agriculture, agriculture, tourism, and tourism, and the movie / tv the movie / tv

industryindustry

Nature of PlaceNature of Place Environmental CharacteristicsEnvironmental Characteristics

- Surrey is known as the "City of Parks" with more - Surrey is known as the "City of Parks" with more than 600 designated parks and green belts covering than 600 designated parks and green belts covering approximately 5400 acres (see green areas on map approximately 5400 acres (see green areas on map below)below)..- 35% of City land is designated for agricultural - 35% of City land is designated for agricultural purposes as part of the Agricultural Land Reserve purposes as part of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) established by the provincial government in (ALR) established by the provincial government in the 1970s to preserve farmland for the future.the 1970s to preserve farmland for the future.- As the population of the city continues to grow, - As the population of the city continues to grow, there are issues of how to manage that growth in there are issues of how to manage that growth in terms of livability and the impact on air, water, and terms of livability and the impact on air, water, and soil quality due to urbanization, industrialization, soil quality due to urbanization, industrialization, and transportation.and transportation.

Nature of PlaceNature of Place Political CharacteristicsPolitical Characteristics

- Surrey officially became a city in - Surrey officially became a city in September of 1993 but has been September of 1993 but has been incorporated since 1879.incorporated since 1879.- The mayor of Surrey is Diane Watts.- The mayor of Surrey is Diane Watts.- As Surrey continues to grow, city officials - As Surrey continues to grow, city officials desire a greater say in how the Greater desire a greater say in how the Greater Vancouver Regional District is run with Vancouver Regional District is run with respect to issues such as transportation respect to issues such as transportation projects and policing.projects and policing.- Surrey's Sister Cities are the City of - Surrey's Sister Cities are the City of Zhuhai in China and the City of Koto-ku in Zhuhai in China and the City of Koto-ku in Japan.Japan.

Nature of PlaceNature of Place Social and Cultural CharacteristicsSocial and Cultural Characteristics

- Surrey is a very multicultural city with - Surrey is a very multicultural city with diverse age groups; although the southern diverse age groups; although the southern portion of the city (near White Rock) is less portion of the city (near White Rock) is less diverse ethnically with a generally older diverse ethnically with a generally older population.population.- The City's population is growing at a rate - The City's population is growing at a rate of approximately 800 per month and is of approximately 800 per month and is projected to overtake Vancouver in the next projected to overtake Vancouver in the next twenty years as British Columbia's most twenty years as British Columbia's most populated city.populated city.- With such rapid growth there are big city - With such rapid growth there are big city challenges to deal with such as challenges to deal with such as transportation issues and crime (i.e. auto transportation issues and crime (i.e. auto theft, drugs, and prostitution).theft, drugs, and prostitution).

Human-Environment Interaction Human-Environment Interaction Human Dependency On the Environment Human Dependency On the Environment

- Fertile alluvial soil deposited on river flood plains in the - Fertile alluvial soil deposited on river flood plains in the lowland areas has created agricultural potentiallowland areas has created agricultural potential..- The Fraser river acts as a transportation route for port - The Fraser river acts as a transportation route for port activity.activity.- The Fraser, Serpentine, and Nicomekl rivers support the - The Fraser, Serpentine, and Nicomekl rivers support the commercial, sports, and aboriginal fisheries.commercial, sports, and aboriginal fisheries.- Historically, forests have created logging jobs and related - Historically, forests have created logging jobs and related businesses.businesses.- Trees in parks help to support recreation, provide - Trees in parks help to support recreation, provide oxygen, moderate local temperatures, and filter air oxygen, moderate local temperatures, and filter air pollution.pollution.- Preservation of wetland areas helps to reduce the risk of - Preservation of wetland areas helps to reduce the risk of flooding and filters pollutants in water.flooding and filters pollutants in water.- The movie / television industry seeks out locations in - The movie / television industry seeks out locations in Surrey to film due in part to the physical geography (eg Surrey to film due in part to the physical geography (eg the science fiction series "Smallville" films in Cloverdale the science fiction series "Smallville" films in Cloverdale because this farming community has a similar appearance because this farming community has a similar appearance to the mid-West United States).to the mid-West United States).

Human-Environment InteractionHuman-Environment Interaction

Human Adaptation to the Human Adaptation to the EnvironmentEnvironment- The City has built dykes along the - The City has built dykes along the rivers to guard against floodingrivers to guard against flooding..- Bridges have been built to get - Bridges have been built to get across rivers.across rivers.- Engineering techniques have been - Engineering techniques have been developed to allow construction of developed to allow construction of roads which allow for safe movement roads which allow for safe movement between the upland and lowland between the upland and lowland areas.areas.

Human-Environment Interaction Human-Environment Interaction Human Modification of the EnvironmentHuman Modification of the Environment

- Forests have been cleared for urbanization/sub - Forests have been cleared for urbanization/sub urbanization and industrialization.urbanization and industrialization.- Urban runoff has an impact on the water quality of - Urban runoff has an impact on the water quality of streams and rivers which impacts salmon stocks.streams and rivers which impacts salmon stocks. - Sewage disposal affects the water quality in the Fraser - Sewage disposal affects the water quality in the Fraser river. Upgrading of sewage treatment facilities from river. Upgrading of sewage treatment facilities from primary to secondary treatment reduces the negative primary to secondary treatment reduces the negative effects.effects.- Industrial discharge affects water quality in the Fraser - Industrial discharge affects water quality in the Fraser river.river.- Over fishing on the Fraser river has impacted salmon - Over fishing on the Fraser river has impacted salmon stocks.stocks.- The use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on farms - The use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on farms impacts groundwater quality.impacts groundwater quality.- The growing number of cars impacts air quality.- The growing number of cars impacts air quality.- The city has built a lake near 152nd Street and 72nd Ave. - The city has built a lake near 152nd Street and 72nd Ave. to control drainage and provide recreational opportunities.to control drainage and provide recreational opportunities.- The city has created detention ponds to help control and - The city has created detention ponds to help control and filter urban runoff.filter urban runoff.

Movement Movement Surrey is linked to other communities in the Greater Surrey is linked to other communities in the Greater

Vancouver area via highways (i.e. TransCanada Vancouver area via highways (i.e. TransCanada Hwy., Fraser Hwy., Hwy. 99, Hwy. 10), Skytrain, Hwy., Fraser Hwy., Hwy. 99, Hwy. 10), Skytrain, buses, Fraser river boat traffic, etc.buses, Fraser river boat traffic, etc.

Surrey is connected to the United States via two Surrey is connected to the United States via two border crossingsborder crossings– Peace ArchPeace Arch– Pacific Truck CrossingPacific Truck Crossing

The people of Surrey interact with the rest of the The people of Surrey interact with the rest of the world via the telephone, internet, newspapers, world via the telephone, internet, newspapers, television, international trade, immigration, etc.television, international trade, immigration, etc.

Numerous farm products are sold to individuals from Numerous farm products are sold to individuals from outside of Surrey.outside of Surrey.

People around the world see movies/TV shows filmed People around the world see movies/TV shows filmed in Surrey.in Surrey.

The Cloverdale rodeo is a popular tourist attraction. The Cloverdale rodeo is a popular tourist attraction.

RegionsRegions

- Surrey is part of the Greater Vancouver Surrey is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (an economic region Regional District (an economic region between the communities of Surrey, Delta, between the communities of Surrey, Delta, Richmond, New Westminster, Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster, Vancouver, Coquitlam, etc.)Coquitlam, etc.)

- Surrey is part of British Columbia (a political Surrey is part of British Columbia (a political region). region).

- Surrey is part of Cascadia (a developing Surrey is part of Cascadia (a developing regional alliance between British Columbia, regional alliance between British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon with common Washington, and Oregon with common economic and environmental concerns).economic and environmental concerns).