How Do I Study Geography?

1. How Do I Study Geography? Six Essential Elements of Geography and Types of Maps

2. #1 - The World in Spatial Terms • Geographers first take a look at where a place is located. • Knowing the location of places helps to develop an awareness of the world around you.

3. #2 - Places and Regions • Place in geography not only describes where something is, but also what it is like. • Geographers also group places by regions. • Regions are united by one or more common characteristic • i.e. Desert Regions, Rainforest Regions

4. #3 - Physical Systems • When studying places and regions, geographers analyze how physical systems – such as hurricanes, volcanoes and glaciers – shape the earth’s surface.

5. #4 – Human Systems • Geographers also examine humans systems, or how people have shaped our world. • They observe political boundaries and why people settle in certain places. • A key theme is movement of people, ideas and goods.

6. #5 – Environment and Society • What is the relationship between people and their natural surroundings? This is what the theme of human/environment interaction investigates. • It also shows how people affect the environment

7. #6 – Uses of Geography • Knowledge of geography helps us understand people, places, and environment over time. • Knowing how to use the tools of geography prepares you for our modern society

8. How Do I Use Maps and Globes? • Geographers use a system of imaginary lines that crisscross the globe. • One of these lines is the EQUATOR – it circles the earth like a belt. • It runs east to west at 0* latitude

9. When the earth is divided into “half spheres” they are called HEMISPHERES. • The PRIME MERIDIAN is another imaginary line that runs north to south in the center of the earth.

10. Latitude and Longitude • Lines on globes and maps provide information that can help locate places on the earth. • These are called latitude and longitude lines. • These lines cross each other to form a grid pattern.

11. Latitude • Lines of latitude, or parallels, circle the earth parallel to the equator and measure the distance north or south of the equator in degrees. • The equator is at 0* latitude.

12. Longitude • Lines of longitude, or meridians, circle the earth from Pole to Pole. These lines measure distances east or west of the starting line, which is at 0* longitude – which is called the Prime Meridian

13. Common Maps • Equal-Area Maps – show continents close to their true shapes and sizes. • This type of map is useful when comparing land areas among continents.

14. A Mercator map shows true direction and land shapes fairly accurately, but not size or distance. Areas located away from the Equator are distorted. • For example – Greenland and Alaska look much larger on this type of map than an equal-area map

15. Parts of a Map • A Map Key explains the lines, symbols, and colors used on a map • Scale is usually a measuring bar that helps you figure distance on the map.

16. A Compass Rose – is a symbol that tells you where the cardinal directions – north, south, east and west - are positioned

17. Physical Maps • Physical maps call out landforms and water features. • A physical map shows rivers and mountains. • A Physical map will use colors to show types of land or even elevation

18. Political Maps – show the names and boundaries of countries, the location of cities and other human made features of a place, and often identify major physical features.