WORLD GEOGRAPHYWORLD GEOGRAPHY

GHSGT ReviewGHSGT Review

Geography is the study of the earth’s Geography is the study of the earth’s surface, land, bodies of water, climate, surface, land, bodies of water, climate, peoples, industries, & natural resourcespeoples, industries, & natural resources

Physical GeographyPhysical Geography– The study of how physical characteristics define a region or The study of how physical characteristics define a region or

placeplace– Landforms, bodies of water, climate, soils, natural vegetation, Landforms, bodies of water, climate, soils, natural vegetation,

and animal lifeand animal life

A A placeplace is an area of land that shares common features is an area of land that shares common features or is defined by common characteristicsor is defined by common characteristics

Physical featuresPhysical features (a.k.a. (a.k.a. topographytopography) ) – The natural land formations that make up the surface areaThe natural land formations that make up the surface area– Oceans, mountains, lakes, riversOceans, mountains, lakes, rivers

LandformLandform– Naturally formed features on the surface of the earthNaturally formed features on the surface of the earth– Island, Swamp, River (Mouth), Gulf, Peninsula, Canyon, Plateau, Island, Swamp, River (Mouth), Gulf, Peninsula, Canyon, Plateau,

Mountain, Valley, Etc…Mountain, Valley, Etc… Bodies of WaterBodies of Water

– A part of the earth’s surface covered with waterA part of the earth’s surface covered with water– River, Ocean, Sea, Lake, Etc…River, Ocean, Sea, Lake, Etc…

ClimateClimate– The typical weather conditions at a particular location as The typical weather conditions at a particular location as

observed over timeobserved over time– Temperature, Humidity, Etc…Temperature, Humidity, Etc…

SoilsSoils– The loose mixture of weathered rock, organic matter, air, and The loose mixture of weathered rock, organic matter, air, and

water that supports plant growthwater that supports plant growth Natural VegetationNatural Vegetation

– Plants and trees that grow in an areaPlants and trees that grow in an area Animal LifeAnimal Life

– types of animals who naturally live in an areatypes of animals who naturally live in an area

Human geographyHuman geography– The study of the world, its people, communities, and cultures– Population settlement patterns, human activities (agriculture

and industry) Human characteristics Human characteristics

– Language, religion, political systems, economic systems, Language, religion, political systems, economic systems, population, and way of lifepopulation, and way of life

Population settlementsPopulation settlements– Types of people who live in a placeTypes of people who live in a place– Birthrate, fertility rate, morality rate, habitable lands, migration, Birthrate, fertility rate, morality rate, habitable lands, migration,

etc…etc…– urbanization – the growth & development of citiesurbanization – the growth & development of cities– population distribution - the arrangement or spread of people population distribution - the arrangement or spread of people

living in a given area; also, how the population of an area is living in a given area; also, how the population of an area is arranged according to variables such as age, race, or sex arranged according to variables such as age, race, or sex

Human activitiesHuman activities– Agriculture and industryAgriculture and industry– Farming, banking, manufacturing, etc…Farming, banking, manufacturing, etc…

CultureCulture– Shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviorsShared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors– Food and shelter, religion, language, education, etc…Food and shelter, religion, language, education, etc…

Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics– Size, Shape, Location (landlocked v coast)Size, Shape, Location (landlocked v coast)– Boundaries (natural v artificial)Boundaries (natural v artificial)

Himalaya Mountains cut off IndiaHimalaya Mountains cut off India

– Natural Resources (oil, timber, etc…)Natural Resources (oil, timber, etc…) Oil in North Africa and Middle EastOil in North Africa and Middle East

Customs and traditionsCustoms and traditions– Ways of doing things passed down from one generation of Ways of doing things passed down from one generation of

people, group, or society to the nextpeople, group, or society to the next– Rituals, weddings, holidays, showing respectRituals, weddings, holidays, showing respect

The following will help with reading maps, The following will help with reading maps, charts, etc…charts, etc…

The following will help you locate The following will help you locate information on a map, chart, etc…information on a map, chart, etc…

HemispheresHemispheres– Each ½ of the globeEach ½ of the globe

Latitude (parallels)Latitude (parallels)– Set of imaginary lines that run Set of imaginary lines that run

parallel to the equator, and parallel to the equator, and that are used in locating that are used in locating places north or southplaces north or south

– The equator is labeled the 0˚ lineThe equator is labeled the 0˚ line Longitude (meridians)Longitude (meridians)

– Set of imaginary lines that go Set of imaginary lines that go around the earth over the around the earth over the poles, dividing it east and poles, dividing it east and westwest

– The prime meridian is labeled The prime meridian is labeled the 0˚ 0˚ linethe 0˚ 0˚ line

A continent is a large landmass A continent is a large landmass

and usually consists of several countriesand usually consists of several countries

Physical MapPhysical Map– Helps you see the types of Helps you see the types of

landforms and bodies of landforms and bodies of water found in a specific areawater found in a specific area

Political MapPolitical Map– Shows features on the earth’s Shows features on the earth’s

surface that humans surface that humans createdcreated

Compass RoseCompass Rose– A design on a map that shows directionsA design on a map that shows directions– North, south, east, west, northeast, North, south, east, west, northeast,

northwest, southeast, and southwest northwest, southeast, and southwest

Legend/KeyLegend/Key– Since a map is a reduced representation of Since a map is a reduced representation of

the real world, map symbols are used to the real world, map symbols are used to represent real objectsrepresent real objectsWithout symbols, we wouldn't have mapsWithout symbols, we wouldn't have maps

– Both shapes and colors can be used for Both shapes and colors can be used for symbols on mapssymbols on maps

– To ensure that a person can correctly read a To ensure that a person can correctly read a map, a map, a Map LegendMap Legend is a key to all the is a key to all the symbols used on a mapsymbols used on a map It is like a dictionary so you can understand the It is like a dictionary so you can understand the

meaning of what the map representsmeaning of what the map represents

ScaleScale– Since an accurate map represents the land, Since an accurate map represents the land,

each map has a "scale" which indicates the each map has a "scale" which indicates the relationship between a certain distance on relationship between a certain distance on the map and the distance on the ground the map and the distance on the ground

– The map scale is usually located in the The map scale is usually located in the legend box of a maplegend box of a map

– A map scale can be printed in a variety of A map scale can be printed in a variety of ways ways