The 5 Themes of Geography

WHAT is Geography??

• Geography= the study of people, places and things on the earth’s surface AND how they relate to one another.

1. Location• Location refers to position on the Earth’s

surface. There are 2 types:

• Relative location is a description of where something on the Earth’s surface.

• Exact Location is the exact position of someplace on the Earth’s surface.– Exact location uses latitude & longitude to

locate a place.

Latitude• Measures distances north or south of the Equator. • Latitude has a relationship with climate.• Important lines of latitude are:

– The Equator-• 0*

• divides the Earth into Northern & Southern Hemispheres

– Tropic of Cancer-• 23 ½*N- the sun is directly overhead when it reaches the northern most

point in the sky

– Tropic of Capricorn-• 23 ½*S- the sun is directly overhead when it reaches the southern most

point in the sky

– The area btw the Tropic o f Cancer & The Tropic of Capricorn is officially termed “the tropics”

Longitude• Measures distance east & west of the Prime

Meridian• Longitude has a relationship with time

– Every 15*= 1 hour time change

• Important lines of Longitude are:– Prime Meridian

• 0*• Divides the Earth into Eastern & Western Hemispheres• Passes directly through Greenwich, England

– International Dateline• 180*• Each day starts here

2. Place

• Described in terms of physical & human characteristics– Physical characteristics= landforms, climate,

soil, animal life– Human characteristics= ppl’s way of life- their

activities, transportation, religion, languages, etc

3. Interaction btw People & their Environment

• How ppl change the world around them & how ppl adapt to the world around them.– Hidden costs= actions can produce pollution,

disrupt living organisms, etc

4. Movement

• Of people, goods, & Ideas– People migrate– Goods are traded (import v. export)– Ideas spread w/ ppl & goods & today’s mass media– Interdependence- the reliance of countries on goods,

resources, & knowledge from other parts of the world.

5. Realm/ Region• Geographic realm- defined in terms of total human

geography- a composite of leading cultural, economic, historical, political, & environmental features.– Realms can change over time– Transition zones- areas where realms meet. There are no

sharp boundaries

• Region- an area w/in a realm w/ unifying features like physical characteristics, cultural features, political regions, economic features– A country can be a part of several regions