Geography Vocabulary - Continents, Oceans, and Southeast Asia Concepts

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering continents, oceans, core geography concepts, and Southeast Asia topics based on the notes.

Continents

The seven large landmasses that make up Earth's major geographical divisions: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

Oceans

The five major bodies of saltwater surrounding the continents: Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Southern Ocean.

Geography

The science that studies the Earth's physical features and their distribution, from Greek geo (earth) and graphia (description).

Physical Geography

The branch of geography focusing on the Earth's natural features, including landforms, water bodies, and natural resources.

Human Geography

The branch of geography that studies how humans interact with the environment, including culture, language, religion, and politics.

Location

The position of a place; two types: Absolute Location and Relative Location.

Absolute Location

The exact position of a place expressed with coordinates (longitude and latitude).

Latitude

Imaginary lines that run east–west and measure degrees north or south of the Equator.

Longitude

Imaginary lines that run north–south and measure degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Relative Location

The position of a place based on nearby features or landmarks rather than exact coordinates.

Place

The characteristics of a location, including climate, topography, natural resources, language, religion, population, culture, and political systems.

Region

A group of places that are linked by similar physical and/or cultural characteristics.

Human–Environment Interaction

The ways in which people interact with their physical environment, including adaptation, modification, and the use of resources.

Movement

The mobility of people, goods, and ideas across space.

Mainland Southeast Asia

The part of Southeast Asia connected to the Asian mainland, characterized by landmasses and plains, contrasted with insular Southeast Asia.

Insular Southeast Asia

The archipelago region of Southeast Asia consisting of many islands surrounded by seas and oceans.

Mekong River

A major river approximately 4,350 km long that flows through six countries and empties into the South China Sea.

Salween River

A river about 3,060 km long, originating in the Tibetan plateau and flowing through Myanmar and northern Thailand to the Andaman Sea.

Irrawaddy River

Myanmar’s longest river, about 2,170 km, flowing into the Andaman Sea.

Red River

A river about 1,120 km long, starting in China and flowing through Vietnam to the Gulf of Tonkin.

Himalayas

A major mountain range forming a natural boundary in South/Southeast Asia and influencing climate and culture.

Arakan Mountains

A mountain range in western Myanmar that forms a barrier between Rakhine state and the central plains, shaping regional culture.

Tenasserim Range

A mountain range between Thailand and Myanmar that hosts many ethnic groups.

Annamite Mountains

A mountain range along the border of Vietnam and Laos; central highlands between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Tropical climate

A tropical climate with two main seasons (wet/rainy and dry), favorable for agriculture and fishing.

Greater India / Little China (influence in Southeast Asia)

A historical description by Dr. Zeus Salazar noting that Southeast Asia has been influenced primarily by Indian and Chinese civilizations.

Southeast Asia

The region of Asia comprising mainland and insular states, including Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and East Timor.

Physical environment

The natural features of a place, such as mountains, plains, rivers, and climate.

Natural resources

Natural assets like minerals, forests, and energy sources found in a region.