5 Themes of Geography

1. 5 Themes of Geography How They Help us Study Geography

2. What is Geography? Gk. geographia "description of the earth's surface," from geo- "earth" + -graphia "description“ Geography: The study of the earth and its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and the effects of human activity.

3. What are the 5 Themes? The 5 Themes offer a structured way of thinking about the world and can be used to study all kinds of geographic issues. • Location • Place • Human Interaction • Movement • Region

4. Location Location: Where is it? Two Types: • Absolute • Relative

5. Location Absolute Location: its exact position on the globe. Geographers use Latitude and Longitude

6. Location Latitude: Imaginary lines that circle the Earth parallel to the equator. They: • Measure distance north or south of the equator • Equator is 0° Latitude • Sometimes called Parallels • Lines north of the equator are labeled N and lines south of the equator are labeled S

7. Location Longitude: Imaginary lines east and west of the Prime Meridian (Long. Line that goes through Greenwich, UK). They: • Go from pole to pole • Measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian • Lines east of the PM are labeled with an E. Lines west of the PM are labeled with a W.

8. Location Relative Location: Where a place is located in relation to other places (yourself).

9. Place Place: What is it like there? • Physical Features: Refers to things in nature that make a place unique • Climate • Mountains • Bodies of Water • Human Characteristics: Refers to aspects of the humans in a specific place • Religion • Language • Customs

10. Human Interaction Human Interaction: What is the relationship between people and their environment? • How have humans destroyed the environment • How have humans improved the environment *Humanity doesn’t always do the right thing! We affect our environment even when we don’t realize it.

11. Aral Sea The Aral Sea Prior to 1960: • Borders Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan • Formerly one of the world’s 4 largest lakes • Once a populated fishing area • Over 26,000 sq. miles

12. Aral Sea The Aral Sea Now: • 10% of it’s original size • Mostly a salt desert • Filled with pesticides • Riddled with abandoned boats

13. Why Did this Happen? • The Soviet Union rerouted all the rivers to support the cotton farms • Pesticides were put into the soil to promote healthy cotton growth • The salt content grew since new water was not being flushed in • Fish cannot survive in the remaining waters, plants cannot be planted where the water used to be • Industry is now destroyed

14. Movement Movement: How are people and places connected? • Communication: • Internet • Phones • Mail • Movement of People and Goods: • Cars • Planes • Boats • Walking (or NOT)

15. Movement Name some of the most important inventions that changed communication: Name some of the most important inventions that changed transportation:

16. Region Region: How is the world divided/Unified? • Physical Regions • Andes Mountains • Mississippi River Basin • Ring of Fire • Human Regions • Countries • Religions • Languages

17. Examples Look at the maps and try to guess the regions:

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22. Examples Look at the maps and try to guess the regions: