The Five Themes of Geography Identification Slide Show

The Five Themes of Geography Identification Slide Show Developed by Joseph Naumann Updated 6/25/2009 1

5 Themes & Geographic Questions PLACE LOCATION HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ INTERACTION REGION MOVEMENT 2

Location – determining the position of a place on the earth’s surface 1. Absolute location – precise positioning – latitude and longitude are the best. GIS gives this new meaning Automobile systems linked to satellites 2. Relative location – describing in relation to other, known places such as landmarks and unusual, easily recognizable features. Used by most people in giving directions 3

RELATIVE From UMSL, drive north on South Florissant Road through Ferguson. Continue north past I 270. At the second stop light, you should see a log cabin and tennis court and large water tank on the left side of the road. Continue to the next street, St. Catherine. You will see a Sinclair Oil gas station on the left. Immediately across the street is a small strip shopping center. The center store is Old Town Donuts. Make a right turn into the parking lot and go in. ABSOLUTE Where is 38º N and 95ºW? 4

Place – those features that give character to a location (a degree of uniqueness). 1. Physical place – natural features – what nature provides – climate, landforms, vegetation, etc. Can many places no longer be called physical places – where might the human influence be absent today? This relates to theme of human/environment interaction. 2. Human (cultural) place – features added by humans – distinctive dress, architecture, language, religion, burial practices, agricultural practices, etc. 5

HUMAN PLACE PHYSICAL PLACE PRODUCED BY HUMANS Distinctive type of boat associated with south Pacific islands CREATED MAINLY BY NATURE Arid area with exotic stream at the foot of a great escarpment or mountain range. 6

HUMAN PLACE PHYSICAL PLACE CREATED BY NATURE PRODUCED BY Volcanic mountains HUMANS which influence soil Distinctive type of dress, fertility and present musical instrument & hazardous living music 7 conditions

Human/Environment Interaction 1. Human adaptations to natural conditions. Heavy coats in winter Elevated housing in areas prone to flooding 2. Changes in natural conditions made by humans. Digging canals Changing the vegetation – farming, etc. 8

HUMANS ADAPT - HUMANS CHANGE Humans had to adapt their construction methods to the arctic environment when they built the Alaska pipeline. Faster, easier transportation was important enough for them to construct tunnels through the 9 mountains.

Humans change things The Netherlands versus the Sea. Humans have reclaimed land from the sea at least for now 10

Movement – the transfer of material and non material things from place to place 1. Material things – involving tangible objects transported in a variety of ways Animal and animal-powered means Land, water, and air vehicles 2. Non-material things – information, power, culture traits Fashions, trends, fads, etc. Electronic media, etc. 11

MATERIAL Material objects (cargo & passengers) are transferred from one place to another by an airplane. NONMATERIAL Nonmaterial entity (data, pictures, & conversations) move invisibly from one place to many others. 12

Regions – mental constructs expressing some commonality or uniformity 1. Formal Regions – possesses a single common feature or a limited combination of features throughout the area Political units such as states and counties 2. Functional Regions – An operational unit based on organization, structure, and interactions The hinterland of a major city 13

FORMAL REGION The different colors stand for territory added to Russia during different periods of time. The common feature for each color is the time period in which it was added to Russia. 14

Transition Zone Formal Regions 15

FUNCTIONAL REGION Coal mining is at the heart of the economy of all these counties. Many factors are related to the coal mining industry. The deposits influence movement and settlement patterns. 16

Different sets of criteria produce different versions of a region Common core area All three are anchored around a core area, but the peripheral areas of the regions differ markedly. 17

Vernacular Region Vernicular Region: A place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity, knowledge base, and/or personal experience. The size, shape, and boundaries of vernacular regions may vary greatly among people. 18

Vernacular Regions 19

2 Versions of 2 Vernacular Regions 20

Human Place & Interaction 21

Physical Place 22

Human/ Environment Interaction and Human Place and Material Movement 23

Material Movement, Interaction (alteration), Formal (Urban) Region, 24

Non-material movement, Formal (agricultural) region, Human/environment interaction (alteration) 25

Physical Place 26

Physical Place 27

Material movement, Human/environment interaction (alteration), Physical Place 28

Human Place 29

Human Place 30

Human Place 31

40°N, 120°W Absolute Location 32

Human Place 33

Relative location, Human place, Interaction (alteration) 34

Physical Place 35

Human Place & Movement 36

Interaction (adaptation), Non-material movement, & Physical place 37

Formal (agricultural) region, Interaction (alteration) 38

Human place, Non-material movement, Interaction (alteration) 39

Physical place, relative location, movement, interaction 40

Material movement, Interaction (alteration) 41

Relative location, Formal (urban) region, Material movement 42

Human place & Relative location 43

Interaction (adaptation) 44