Geography Basics

Branches of Geography

• Human Geography: studies the impact of human activities on the environment and the ways in which people interact with their surroundings
• Physical Geography: examines the natural environment and the processes that shape it
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): uses spatial data and technology to analyze and understand geographic phenomena

Key Concepts

• Spatial Analysis: examines the relationships between geographic phenomena and their spatial distributions
• Place: a specific location with unique cultural, social, and economic characteristics
• Region: a larger area defined by cultural, economic, or physical characteristics
• Scale: the level of detail at which geographic phenomena are studied, ranging from local to global

Geographic Features

• Mountains: natural formations of land that are higher than the surrounding terrain
• Plateaus: elevated regions of land that are relatively flat
• Valleys: low areas of land between hills or mountains
• Oceans: large bodies of saltwater that cover over 70% of the Earth's surface
• Continents: large landmasses that are separated by oceans

Geographic Processes

• Weathering: the breakdown of rocks and landforms through natural forces such as wind, water, and ice
• Erosion: the removal of rocks and soil through natural forces such as wind, water, and ice
• Deposition: the process of sediment and rocks being deposited in a new location
• Plate Tectonics: the movement of the Earth's crust, resulting in the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes

Human-Environment Interaction

• Population Growth: the increase in the number of people living in a particular area
• Urbanization: the movement of people from rural areas to cities
• Migration: the movement of people from one place to another
• Environmental Impact: the effects of human activities on the natural environment, such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change

Test your knowledge of the fundamental concepts and branches of geography, including human and physical geography, geographic features, and human-environment interaction.