5 Themes of Geography

Legend/Key

a tool used to explain what the symbols on a map represent

region

an area with common features that set it apart from other areas

human features

characteristics of a place made by people who live there such as art, language, religion, type of government, landmarks, etc.

Absolute Location

the exact location of a place on the earth's surface found using latitude and longitude coordinates. It utilizes quantitative data to find the location of a place.

movement

the mobility of people, goods, and ideas across the world

place

the physical features and human features of a location.

Relative location

the position of a place in relation to another place. Uses specific words to describe where a person is or what place they can be found. (Ex. Next to, nearby, around, West, North of). A person can even use Cardinal direction. This utilizes qualitative data.

human-environment interaction

the way people either adapt to or change their environment to meet their needs

Northern Hemisphere

Created as a result of the equator bisecting the earth, creating the northern half.

Southern Hemisphere

Created as a result of the equator bisecting the earth, creating the southern half.

Eastern Hemisphere

Created by the prime meridian bisecting the earth creating two equal halves on the Eastern side of the earth.

Western Hemisphere

Created by the prime meridian bisecting the earth creating two equal halves on the Western side of the earth.

Scale

Device found near the lower portion of the map to tell relative distance between two places.

Hemisphere

One half of the earth. Created as a result of the equator or prime meridian bisecting the earth.

Cartographer

People with the special skill of creating maps.

Location

Relative and Absolute are two characteristics of Location.

Compass Rose

A tool found on a map to help find the direct a person is traveling. It can also relay Cardinal and Intermediate direction.

Which of the five themes could a desert be classified as?

An example for classifying a region, based upon its vegetation or climate/weather.

14º N, 15º W

An example of Absolute Location, utilizing coordinates to find the exact location of a place.

Longitude

An imaginary great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the north and south poles. It creates right angles to the equator. They measure East-West in direction.

Latitude

An imaginary line that runs East-West around the Earth parallel to the equator. They measure North-South

5 themes of geography

Location, Place, Region, Human-Environment Interaction, Movement. These are the foundations of Geography.

Tropic of Cancer

Main line of latitude located at 23.5 degrees North

Tropic of Capricorn

Main line of latitude located at 23.5 degrees south.

Title of a map

Tells you the subject of the map, whether it is physical, population density, climate etc.

Equator

imaginary line that runs around the earth halfway between the North and South Poles; used as the starting point to measure degrees of north and south latitude

Prime Meridian

line of the global grid running from the North Pole to the South Pole through Greenwich, England; starting point for measuring degrees of east and west longitude. The main line of longitude that creates the Western and Eastern hemispheres

physical features

natural features, such as land and water forms, climate, natural plants, and native animals

Cardinal Direction

north, south, east, west. Information can be found on a map called a compass rose.

degrees

unit of measure to show the distance of a place from the Equator or Prime Meridian