THINKING GEOGRAPHICALLY:Why is Each Point on Earth Unique?

Location is the position something occupies on Earth and can be identified in four different ways:◦ Place name◦ Site◦ Situation◦ Mathematical location

IT’S ALL ABOUT LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!

Toponym – name given to a place on Earth Site is the physical characteristics of a place

◦ Example: climate, water sources, topography, soil, etc.

◦ The characteristics of a site can be modified Situation – location of a place relative to

other places

NAME, SITE, SITUATION

MANHATTAN ISLAND

SINGAPORE

Meridian – arc drawn between the North and South poles◦ Known as longitude

Parallel – circle drawn around the globe parallel to the equator and perpindicular to meridians◦ Known as latitude

MATHEMATICAL LOCATION

Prime Meridian – meridian passing through Greenwich, England at 0° longitude

All other meridians have numbers between 0° and 180° east or west depending on where they are in relation to the Prime Meridian

Longitude is important when telling time because travelling 15° east or west is equal to a 1 hour time difference.

LONGITUDE

At 0° lies the equator. All other meridians have numbers between

0° and 90° north or south depending on where they are in relation to the equator

Longitude and latitiude are used together to determine the precise location of a place

LATITUDE

Combination of features such as language and religion, economic features such as industry, and physical features such as climate and vegetation.

Regions gain their identity from a combination of characteristics.

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

Area within which everyone shares one or more characteristics in common. This can be due to a common language, economic activity, political beliefs,

etc.

FORMAL REGION

Area organized around a focal point. An example could be newspaper circulation.

FUNCTIONAL REGION

Place people believe exists as part of their cultural identity. For example the southern region of the United States.

VERNACULAR REGION