What is Geography?

The study of the earth and how people live and work on it. WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY? The study of the earth and how people live and work on it. Two aspects we will focus on: A. Physical Geography: Landforms and climate. B. Human Geography: Culture, history, and movement

THE FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY LOCATION Where is it? How do I get there? Absolute Location 1. Global – coordinates – Ex. Rapid City is located at: 44° N 103° W 2. Local – address – Ex. I live at _________. (1200 S 44th St, Rapid City, SD 57702)

B. Relative Location – Location of a place in relation to something else. time, direction, distance Ex. I live next to the blue house. Describe the relative location of: Your house to Stevens High School (direction) Your house to Stevens High School (distance) Your house to Stevens High School (time) Keys: next to, east of, across the street from, etc.

PLACE What is it like there? A. Human characteristics – Activities, culture What are some places that are defined by activities that take place there? What are some places that are defined by language, religion, ethnic groups?

What are some factors that define culture? (Write down at least Five)

B. Physical characteristics – landforms, climate, flora (plants), fauna (animals) C. Images – Based on experiences – attitude, perceptions

HUMAN/ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION How do humans and the environment affect each other? A. Humans RELATION to the environment. Ex – clothing, AC/heating B. Humans IMPACT ON the environment. Ex – irrigation, damming rivers, pollution Humans RELY on the environment. Ex – rivers for water and transportation, mining

D. Natural hazards/disasters – Tsunami, Hurricane, Tornado, Blizzard, Animal attacks Human/environment interaction includes advantages/disadvantages of a place.

MOVEMENT How are people/places connected? A. People -- transportation B. Ideas -- communication

C. Migration – People moving from one place to another. 1. Push factors – Makes people want to move. 2. Pull factors – Attracts people to a place.

Smaller divisions/pieces. REGION Smaller divisions/pieces. What are three examples of regions that Rapid City is located in?