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What is geography?

What is geography?. Geography is a field of science dedicated to the study of the earth Landscapes and features Inhabitants—something that lives there Phenomena—something that happens. What can a map tell us?. Political maps Locations & boundaries of places. What can a map tell us?.

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What is geography?

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  1. What is geography? • Geography is a field of science dedicated to the study of the earth • Landscapes and features • Inhabitants—something that lives there • Phenomena—something that happens

  2. What can a map tell us? • Political maps • Locations & boundaries of places

  3. What can a map tell us? • Physical maps • Land formations and water

  4. What can a map tell us? • Elevation maps • Distance above or below sea level

  5. What can a map tell us? • Population maps • How many people live in a certain area • Population density—people in a given area

  6. What can a map tell us? • Climate maps • Weather patterns and temperatures

  7. What can a map tell us? • Natural resource maps • Where and what type of resources are available

  8. How do we read maps? • Map tools • Compasses show direction • Cardinal directions: North, East, South, and West

  9. How do we read maps? • Map tools (cont.) • Map keys (aka legends) use symbols to identify locations of real things

  10. How do we read maps? • Map tools (cont.) • Distance scales help find actual distance between locations on a small map

  11. How do we read maps? • Map tools (cont.) • Map grids use numbers and letters to divide maps into small sections

  12. How do we read maps? • Map tools (cont.) • Latitudes or parallels • Horizontal lines on a world map/globe • Run east/west across the world • Middle point known as the equator

  13. How do we read maps? • Map tools (cont.) • Longitude or meridians • Vertical lines on a world map or glove • Run north/south around the world • Middle point called “prime meridian”

  14. How do we read maps? • Map tools (cont.) • Hemispheres • Equator runs east/west and splits earth into northern and southern hemispheres • Prime meridian runs north/south and divides earth into eastern and western hemispheres

  15. What types of land formations exist? • Landforms are natural features of the earth’s surface • Mountains • High elevation (known as peak) • Usually formed through tectonic plate activity • Plains • Flat, dry area created by glaciers • Good for agriculture—fertile soil • Glaciers • Dense, slowly flowing body of ice • Created Great Plains during Ice Age

  16. What types of land formations exist? • Deserts • Arid (very dry) climate • Lacks vegetation or animal life • Wetlands • Saturated with water and lots of wildlife • Rivers • Flowing body of water • Often floods during wet seasons and deposits nutrients into soil • Good for farming • Lakes • Depression filled with water • Formed through tectonics, landslides, craters, glacial activity

  17. How is America divided up? • United States of America • States • Counties • Not in Alaska (boroughs), Louisiana (parishes), or Connecticut or Rhode Island (too small) • Cities, towns or townships, villages, etc.

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