1

The Five Themes of Geography Identification

Slide Show

Developed byJoseph Naumann

Updated 6/25/2009

2

5 Themes & Geographic Questions

MOVEMENT

HUMANENVIRONMENT/INTERACTION

PLACELOCATION

REGION

3

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 meaningAutomobile 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

4

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.

Where is 38º N and 95ºW?

RELATIVE ABSOLUTE

5

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 the theme of human/environment interaction.

2. Human (cultural) place – features added by humans – distinctive dress, architecture, language, religion, burial practices, agricultural practices, etc.

6

HUMAN PLACE PHYSICAL PLACE

PRODUCED BY HUMANSDistinctive type of boat associated with south Pacific islands

CREATED MAINLY BY NATUREArid area with exotic stream at the foot of a great escarpment or mountain range.

7

HUMAN PLACE PHYSICAL PLACE

PRODUCED BY HUMANSDistinctive type of dress, musical instrument & music

CREATED BY NATUREVolcanic mountains which influence soil fertility and present hazardous living conditions

8

Human/Environment Interaction

1. Human adaptations to natural conditions.

Heavy coats in winterElevated housing in areas prone to flooding

2. Changes in natural conditions made by humans.

Digging canalsChanging the vegetation – farming, etc.

9

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 mountains.

10

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

11

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 meansLand, water, and air vehicles

2. Non-material things – information, power, culture traits

Fashions, trends, fads, etc.Electronic media, etc.

12

MATERIAL NONMATERIAL

Material objects (cargo & passengers) are transferred from one place to another by an airplane.

Nonmaterial entity (data, pictures, & conversations) move invisibly from one place to many others.

13

Regions – mental constructs expressing some commonality or uniformity1. 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

14

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.

15Formal Regions

Transition Zone

16

FUNCTIONAL FUNCTIONAL REGIONREGION

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.

17

Different sets of criteria produce different versions of a region

All three are anchored around a core area, but the peripheral areas of the regions differ markedly.

Common core area

Vernacular RegionVernacular 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 RegionsVernacular Regions

19

2 Versions of 2 Vernacular 2 Versions of 2 Vernacular RegionsRegions

20

21Human Place & Interaction

22

Physical Place

23

Human/ Environment Interaction and Human Place and Material Movement

24

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

25

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

26

Physical Place

27Physical Place

28

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

29

Human Place

30Human Place

31Human Place

32Absolute Location

40°N,120°W

33

Human Place

34

Relative location, Human place, Interaction (alteration)

35

Physical Place

36Human Place & Movement

37

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

38

Formal (agricultural) region, Interaction (alteration)

39

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

40

41

Material movement, Interaction (alteration)

42

Relative location, Formal (urban) region, Material movement

43

Human place & Relative location

44

Interaction (adaptation)