Chapter 1

The World of Geography

Section 1Section 1

The Five Themes of GeographyThe Five Themes of Geography

Geography

Is the study of the Earth

Geographers are guided by two basic questions: Where are things located??? Why are they there???

To find the answers, geographers use themes to organize information

Location: where a point exists Place: a location’s physical and human features Human Environment interaction: how people affect

their environment Movement: How goods, ideas, and people get

from one place to another Regions: Large areas that are linked by similar

characteristics

Location Absolute location

A places exact position on Earth (geographic address)

Uses latitude and longitude

Relative location Explains where a

place is by describing places near it.

“I live in Bismarck, 190 miles west of Fargo”

Location Lines of Latitude:

East-West circles around the globe Parallels:

Another name for lines of latitude, because they are parallel to one another

Degrees: Unit used to measure location on maps

Equator: A parallel in the middle of the globe

Location Lines of Longitude:

Lines that circle the globe from North-South

Meridians: Another name for lines of Longitude All run through the North and South Poles

Prime Meridian: Runs though Greenwich, England Is 0 degrees longitude

Latitude and Longitude Latitude

Measured North and South of Equator Longitude

Measured East and West of Prime Meridian (Greenwich, England)

Measured in degrees, minutes, seconds Degree - 69.1 miles Minute - 1.15 miles Second - 101 feet

Place Physical features

Climate - hot or cold Land is hilly

Human features How many people live there What these people do

Human - Environment Interaction How have people learned to survive in

the area? How do they deal with the environment? Are they helping or hurting the

environment?

Movement Helps people understand cultural

changes Goods and people move: bringing their

culture with them Immigrants to America

Regions Used to make comparisons Deserts, forests, plains, mountains Plain

A region of flat land

Section 2Section 2

The Geographer’s ToolsThe Geographer’s Tools

MapsMaps

GlobeGlobe The most accurate descriptionThe most accurate description Hard to carry aroundHard to carry around

ScaleScale Size of an area on a map compared to the Size of an area on a map compared to the

actual size of an area (1 in= 100 miles)actual size of an area (1 in= 100 miles) Flat mapsFlat maps

Easy to carry aroundEasy to carry around Shows some distortion. (misrepresentation)Shows some distortion. (misrepresentation)

Change in the accuracy of the shapes and Change in the accuracy of the shapes and distancesdistances

MapsMaps Projection - method of putting a map of the Projection - method of putting a map of the

Earth onto a flat piece of paperEarth onto a flat piece of paper Mercator ProjectionMercator Projection

Gerardus MercatorGerardus Mercator Flat map - used by sailorsFlat map - used by sailors Shows correct shapes of landmasses, but not true Shows correct shapes of landmasses, but not true

distances or sizesdistances or sizes

Robinson ProjectionRobinson Projection Arthur RobinsonArthur Robinson

Best world map availableBest world map available Distorted around the edgesDistorted around the edges WAS Official projection for National Geographic – WAS Official projection for National Geographic –

now Winkle Tripelnow Winkle Tripel

More MapsMore Maps

Interrupted projection mapInterrupted projection map ““Orange Peel”Orange Peel” Hard to figure distances correctlyHard to figure distances correctly

DistortionDistortion Flat maps distort land masses because Flat maps distort land masses because

the Earth is round.the Earth is round. Subject of a Map = TitleSubject of a Map = Title

Parts of a mapParts of a map

Compass roseCompass rose Shows the cardinal directions: north, south, Shows the cardinal directions: north, south,

east, and west.east, and west. KeyKey

““legend” explains the symbols for features legend” explains the symbols for features such as roads and cities.such as roads and cities.

GridGrid Helps people find things on the mapHelps people find things on the map Parallels and meridiansParallels and meridians Letters and numbersLetters and numbers