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Regional Geography. Study Guide. Regions can be defined by a distinct set of characteristics discuss. Give Examples of different types or Regions Physical – Such landscapes referred to as Geomorphic These have unique characteristics Unique landscapes i.e. the Burren
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Regional Geography Study Guide
Regions can be defined by a distinct set of characteristics discuss • Give Examples of different types or Regions • Physical – • Such landscapes referred to as Geomorphic • These have unique characteristics • Unique landscapes i.e. the Burren • Karst landscape – Limestone region • Co Clare Ireland • Administrative • Regions controlled by local or central government agencies • County Councils Ireland • County Cork is an example of a local government region • Cultural • Region with its own unique language or religious characteristics • Irish Gaeltacht or Islamic world • Urban • Urban regions can also be referred to as Nodal or city regions • They attract people and industry and are usually important centres of manufacturing and services • They have considerable communication networks • They attract workers from surrounding regions and countries
Describe the key characteristics of a Climatic region • Cool temperate maritime climate of North west Europe • Located between 40 and 60 degrees north and south of the equator • Moderate climate with no extremes • Summer temperatures approx 16 degrees Celsius and winter temps approx 6 degrees Celsius • Precipitation occurs throughout the year but has a winter maximum. • Precipitation can range from 800 mm to 1600 mm dependent on relief and latitude • West of Ireland receives approx 1600 mm rain annually due the mountainous relief. • This rain is referred to as relief rain. • Other parts receive a lot less rainfall due to the rain shadow effect e.g. East of Ireland • Cool temperate climate influenced by the sea. The warm NAD keeps ports ice free • It is also influenced by the prevailing south westerly winds which brings warm moisture to Europe which it took in as it passed over the Atlantic • Frontal depressions bring changeable weather
Describe the key characteristics of a Geomorphological region • The Burren in Co Clare is an important Geomorphological region • It is a Karst landscape of bare limestone rock • It covers an area of about 250 sq kms in North Co Clare • It key characteristics are landforms typical of a Karst region. • These landforms include limestone pavements, cave systems, dry valleys, dolines and swallow holes. • The limestone formed during the carboniferous period about 340 million years ago. • It is composed of the calcium rich skeletons of marine organisms that lived in a warm shallow sea in which Ireland was once submerged. • These were eventually compressed into rock. • Tectonic activity led to Ireland re emerging from the sea and being exposed to denudation. • Rivers began to carve out this landscape and with the help of denudation the joints in the limestone began to widen and form a pavement like structure known as clints and grikes. • These rivers also found their way down through the limestone layers through swallow holes creating caves and caverns underground. • Distinctive limestone features were formed in the caves which include Stalagmites and Stalactites. • The Burren is unique for it flora and fauna as many unusual plants and animals can be found here. • These include the Spring Gentian and the rare Burren Blue Butterfly.
Describe an explain the importance of Culture in defining a region • Language is a key factor when defining regions. Belgium provides evidence that regions that share a specific language are called Cultural regions. • Belgium has three separate cultural regions based mainly on language. • Northern Belgium is known as Flanders and the population of 10 million speak Flemish (similar to Dutch). 60% of Belgium’s population live here • Southern Belgium is called Wallonia and is French speaking. • The south east of Belgium is close to the border of Germany and here the people speak German. • All regions share the same religion – Catholic but Flanders would be more conservative than Wallonia. • Wallonia was once prosperous due to its abundance of Coal deposits. Flanders had no such resources and had to re-invent itself by attracting new footloose industries such as high technology and Pharmaceuticals. • Once the vast deposits of coal ran out the region went into decline and prosperity shifted to the Northern region of Flanders. • Tensions exist between these two regions. Each has its own separate government and education system. • Each region is monolingual. • The only bilingual region is that of Brussels situated in Flanders. • Cultural differences were so great that in 2007 it too more than three months to form a government because the parties could not agree on power sharing negotiations.
A. The boundaries of city regions have expanded over timeB. Examine the growth of an urban area in a European regionC. Describe and explain the growth of one major urban area in a region you have studied • Los Angeles has a population of approx 14 million people • It is the second larges city in the US today after New York • LA became a city in the 1800s and grew rapidly during the Gold rush when people arrived in great numbers searching for gold • 1870 there were 5000 people in LA 30 years later it had a population of 100,000 • In addition to the gold people arrived searching for work in the growing port, railroad and oil industry. • Oil was discovered in the late 1800s and by early 20th C it was producing one quarter of the world’s oil • The need to increase water availability led to the construction of a massive aqueduct over 400 km long which in turn led to increased urbanisation . • The expansion of the railway led to further growth into the surrounding area. • In 1932 LA hosted the Olympic Games and this led to the development of recreational facilities and new roads • The closure of the tram system in 1940s led to an increase in car ownership and this encouraged sprawl • As a result of WW@ LA became a major industrial centre producing aircraft and ammunition. It also produced cars, furniture and clothing. • By 1990s these industries declined and relocated to low wage areas such as Mexico. • LA is a multicultural city. It has a large population of Mexican, Asian and Africa people. • The Asian population is mostly Chinese who first came to LA during the Gold Rush years then stayed as workers on the aqueduct and railroad.
2010 • Examine the factors that influence the development of one tertiary economic activity in a European region (not in Ireland) that you have studied. • Describe and explain the importance of culture in defining any region studied by you. • Urban Regions Examine the development of one urban area in any Irish region studied by you. • Describe and explain any two factors that influence the development of agriculture in a non-European Continental / Sub-Continental Region that you have studied. • Regions can be defined by many factors including• • •Economic Human Physical. Explain how any one of the above factors has defined an Irish Region studied by you. • European Regions Describe and explain any two factors that influence the development of secondary economic activities in a European Region (not in Ireland) that you have studied.
2009 • Describe and explain any two physical factors that have influenced the development of agriculture in an Irish Region that you have studied. • Examine how the distribution of population, in a European Region [not Ireland] that you have studied that has been influenced by the region’s level of economic development. • Describe and explain two impacts on Ireland of the enlargement of the European Union. • Account for the development of one tertiary economic activity in any one Continental / Sub-Continental Region that you have studied. • Describe and explain two impacts on Ireland of the enlargement of the European Union. • Examine the development of one urban area in a European region [not Ireland] that you have studied. • Describe and explain the development of secondary economic activities in an Irish Region that you have studied.
2008 • Examine the factors that influence the development of one economic activity in a European region [not Ireland] that you have • Describe and explain the growth of one major urban area in a Continental/Sub-Continental Region that you have studied. • Examine the development of tertiary economic activities in an Irish region that you have studied. • Describe and explain the importance of culture in defining regions in a Continental/Sub- Continental Region that you have studied. • Examine the development of primary economic activities in an Irish region that you have studied. • Examine the economic and /or cultural impact of expansion on any one member state of the EU.
