Geography is…the study of the earth in all its variety 

Five Themes of Geography – link history with geographyLocation – Where is it?

Absolute location – one exact spot on the earthRelative location – where a place is compared to another place

Place – What is it like?Features and characteristics that give a place its own qualities

Physical (landforms, climate, plants, animals, etc)Cultural (language, religion, music, architecture, etc.)

Human Environment Interaction – How does the relationship between people and their surroundings

influence the way they live?Shows how people use the environment, and how their actions

change the environment

Movement – How do people in one area relate to people in other areas?Study the movement of people, places, and ideasShow how people get connected to others

Region – What common characteristics does an area share?Physical similarities – mountains, forest, etc.Cultural similarities - government, language, etc.

The Land 8 Physical Regions make up the U.S.

Coastal Plains - sea level –1000 ft aboveAtlantic Coastal Plain

Borders the Atlantic from MA to FL Excellent harbors, large cities (megalopolis)

Gulf Coastal PlainBorders the Gulf of Mexico from FL to TXFed by the Mississippi RiverWider than the Atlantic Plain

Appalachian Highlands – 15,000 milesRun from Canada to ALIncludes the oldest mountain range (Appalachian Mts.) Descends from the Mts. to the Piedmont and to the Atlantic

Interior Plains – central U.S.Central lowlands – forests, rivers, flatlands, hills

Largest group of freshwater lakes (Great Lakes)Great Plains – western portion

High plateaus – good for fields and pastureland

Canadian Shield – north central U.S.Rocky, hills, and lakes - MN, MI, WI, and Canada

Rocky Mountains – up to 14,000 ft. above sea levelAK – MexicoContinental Divide–a ridge separating flowing waters in the U.S.

W. flow to Pacific – E. to Gulf of Mexico

Intermountain Region – west of RockiesBasins, plateaus, & deserts – least populatedIncludes the Grand Canyon and Death Valley

Pacific Coast 2 major mountain ranges - Sierra Nevada and Coast Rangeswestern most edge – lowlands, fertile valleysAlaska is part of this region

Islands, bays, and glaciers (frozen rivers of ice)Largest mountain in U.S. Mount McKinley (20,320)

Climate – usual pattern of weather events that occur in an area over a long period of time Affected by the distance from equator, closeness to water, elevation, etc.

10 Climate regions in the U.S.

Midlatitude climates (Between the Equator and the North Pole)1)Humid Continental – cold, wet winters; long hot summers2)Humid Subtropical – mild, cool winters; hot, humid summers3)Marine – mild year round with lots of rain4)Mediterranean – warm dry summers, mild, rainy winters

Dry Climate5)Desert – trapped hot, dry air from the Pacific Mountain Ranges6)Steppe – very cold winters, hot, dry summers

High Latitude Climates7)Tundra – bitter cold winters, summers barely above freezing8)Subarctic – bitter cold winters slightly warmer summers9)Highland – year round cool or cold temperatures

Tropical Climates10)Tropical – humid, high rainfall, hot summers, warm winters

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