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