Defining a Region: Connections, Relationships, & Location ©2012, TESCCC

GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS Represent great clusters of humankind or physical characteristics Change over time Do not have definite borders May differ based on point of view Vary in size Separated from other regions by transition zones. - ©2012, TESCCC

TRANSITION ZONES Location: Edge of a region An area of spatial change where peripheries of two adjacent regions join Marked by a gradual shift (rather than a sharp break) in the characteristics that distinguish neighboring regions Area of mixed characteristics; possible tension (cultural groups) - ©2012, TESCCC

GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS Regions are based on Spatial Criteria What defines a region? Regions are based on Spatial Criteria Location, location, location Common Characteristics Physical (natural) Landforms, Climate, Vegetation, Biomes… Human (cultural) Language, Religion, Ethnicity, Population, Disease… - ©2012, TESCCC

Sub-classification of Regions Dominated by one political power: North America: U.S. Middle America: Mexico South America: Brazil Russian Realm: Russia East Asia: China South Asia: India Southeast Asia: Indonesia Australian Realm: Australia No dominant State Europe Sub-Saharan Africa North Africa / Southwest Asia Oceania (Pacific Realm) Ask students if the domination of one political power or no dominant state makes a difference in a region. Why/Why not? ©2012, TESCCC

SUB-REGIONS Classification of Regions based upon physical features or human characteristics or both. All regions can be divided into sub-regions Ex: United States’ Location: North American Region. U.S. Sub-regions may include: Northeast, Midwest, South, North … or… Metropolitan and suburban areas …or… Physical regions (Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes) Texas example: Hill Country, Piney Woods, West Texas, The Valley, The Coast, East Texas, The Panhandle… Ask students to list various sub-regions of the United States & Texas before you reveal the examples on this slide. Region & Sub-region boundaries are based on criteria we establish. ©2012, TESCCC

FORMAL REGION Examples: Corn Belt Sun Belt Rust Belt Latin America Marked by a certain degree of homogeneity in one or more phenomena. Examples: Corn Belt Sun Belt Rust Belt Latin America Southwest Asia ©2012, TESCCC

FUNCTIONAL REGION Example: Los Angeles Metropolitan Area A region marked by its dynamic internal structure A spatial system focused on a central core A region formed by a set of places and their functional integration (Ex. River systems, Highways, Railroads systems, Communication systems, etc.) Watershed, Drainage Basin, & River Basin are synonymous. Example: Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Mississippi River Watershed ©2012, TESCCC

Perceptual Region A region that is marked by unique human ideas or perceptions. Examples: “The Orient” or the “Tropics” The “South” v. the “North” The “Middle East” v. “Southwest Asia” “Central Texas” “Hill Country” A region of the city or town: “Mid-Town” “Downtown” ©2012, TESCCC