Geography Themes and Skills

• Rocky Mountains


  A 3000 mile mountain range stretching from British Columbia in Canada to New Mexico, and are the tallest mountains in North America.
• Irrigation


  The process of moving water from rivers, streams, and aquifers onto drier areas
• Movement


  stepwise or by leap
• Equator


  The center line of latitude around the middle of the Earth that divides the globe into a Northern and Southern hemisphere
• Cultural Region


  A region defined by common human characteristics

  Example. Midwest
• What does 'Location' refer to in geography?


  The particular position of a place, described as absolute or relative terms.
• What are examples of absolute location?


  Longitude and latitude coordinates.
• What are examples of relative location?


  North of the river.
• International Date Line


  The longitudinal line (180 degrees) that separates two consecutive dates
• Great Plains


  Includes Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, and Montana. Features: hot summers and fertile prairie grassland. Economic activities: wheat agriculture.
• Great Basin


  An area of watersheds to the east of California that extends into several other western states
• What is the Amazon River known for?


  Being one of two key physical features in South America
• What is the rank of the Amazon River in terms of length?


  Second longest river in the world
• Which river discharges the most water in the world?


  Amazon River
• What is a region in geography?


  A collection of different places that have one or more unifying characteristics.
• What is the significance of region in geography?


  It is one of the 5 themes of geography.
• Give an example of a region.

  The Pacific Northwest (shares similar weather patterns)
• Suez Canal


  A man made navigable water route from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea
• What factors does a settlement's situation relate to?


  Available building resources, water supply, food supply, roads, and available natural resources for consumption
• Give an example of a factor related to a settlement's situation.


  Ample water supply
• What does the term 'Place' refer to in geography?


  Refers to the physical and human aspects of a specific area. One of the 5 themes of geography.
• Can you provide an example of 'Place' in geography?


  London (has a temperate climate and urban population)
• What are the Himalaya Mountains known for?


  Being the tallest mountains in the world and home to ten of the tallest peaks
• Where are the Himalaya Mountains located?


  In Asia
• Where is the Fertile Crescent located?


  From the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf
• What is the significance of the Fertile Crescent?


  It contained extremely fertile soil and is known as 'The Cradle of Civilization
• Erie Canal


  A man-made navigable water route from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean (via New York City's Hudson River)
• What are transition zones?


  Areas which exhibit characteristics similar to multiple regions around them.
• Give an example of a transition zone.


  US-Mexico border.
• Latitude


  The horizontal lines of the grid system that measure distance above and below the Equator

  
• What are functional regions?


  Regions based on a shared service or purpose
• Can you provide an example of a functional region?


  Zip Code Regions
• What does the term 'site' refer to in geography?


  The physical setting of a settlement
• Can you provide an example of a settlement site?


  On the riverbank
• Compass Rose


  Symbol on a map that indicates the four cardinal directions: north, south, east and west, to orient the reader

  
• What does 'Relative Location' refer to?


  Describes a place's location relative to another place.
• Why is knowledge of the base location important in understanding relative location?


  It is required to understand the direction.
• Provide an example of relative location.


  The library is located across the street from the courthouse.
• Appalachian Mountains


  A mountain range running vertically in Eastern North America and that serves as one of the key physical features of NA.
• Prime Meridian


  The center line of longitude that divides the Earth into an eastern and western hemisphere