Geography's Nature and Perspectives

absolute location

absolute location

the actual space a place occupies on the Earth’s surface (referred to in mathematical form)

cultural landscape

density

distribution

longitude

the distance east and west of the Prime Meridian in meridians, or lines of equal length that meet at the north and south poles.

meridian

mental map

model

perceptual region

A region defined by feelings and prejudices that may or may not be true. A construct of one’s mental map.

place

projection

region

an area that displays a common trait such as culture, government, language, landform, etc

relative location

refers to the location of a place in relation to the location of other places

formal region

A region with a high level of consistency in a certain cultural or physical attribute

functional region

A region with a node, or center hub, surrounded by interconnecting linkages. Usually connections relate to trade, communications, transportation, etc.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

latitude

the distance north and south of the equator and is measured in equidistant lines called parallels

remote sensing

representative fraction

scale

the degree of generalization on a map is used in two very important ways in geography.

• the frame of reference for studying something (eg:- regional scale, community scale)

• the size of a unit on a map as a ratio of its size on the map to the same units on the Earth’s surface

site

the physical location of a place

situation

the location of a place based on its relation to other places

space

the extent of area that is occupied by something

spatial diffusion

uniform region

example of site

Foxburg is on the banks of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania

example of situation

Foxburg lies equidistant between Erie and Pittsburgh and is three miles upstream from the town of Emlenton.

absolute space

a measurable area with definite boundaries

example of formal region

French-speaking region of Canada
Dairying region of North America
Political boundaries demarcating states (such as Poland, Thailand, etc.) or their subdivisions (Iowa, Manitoba, etc.)
Tropical region
Desert region

example of functional region

Metropolitan Area of Chicago
Bank of America
Port of New Orleans and its hinterlands
Mall of America’s surrounding area

example of perceptual region

Dixie
Bible Belt
Rust Belt
Hillbilly region
Society Hill
Urban street gang’s turf
Chinatown