Geography Test One

geography root words

means “earth” and “written description”

geography

study of the earth and ways people relate to the earth and one another

Themes of Geography

movement, region, location, interaction, place

tools of geography

maps and globes

prime meridian

passes through Greenwich, England, designated 0 degrees. Reference point for time zones

longitude

distance east/west from prime median

equator

imaginary line that divides the earth north/south

latitude

distance north/south from the equator

mental map

someone’s perception of the world or part of it based on available knowledge

gore map projection

A map made of 12 strips of paper called gores

cylindrical projection

first made by Mercator in 1569—globe projected onto cylinder

cylindrical projection flaws

lines of lat and long look straight—compass directions always constant, shapes are accurate, area + distance distorted as further north/south

types of distortion

shape, area, distance, direction

location

absolute/relative

place

physical/human characteristics

human environment

how people adapt to and modify their environment

movement

of people, goods, ideas, diseases

region

formal boundaries or functions

gore map accuracy

inch= same number of miles on every gore, fairly accurate compass directions. Distance is accurate but between gores is awkward. most obvious distortion: shapes because of the gaps- not useful as a flat map

goode’s interrupted projection

popular variations-one like cutting orange peel. Has gaps/cuts. Areas fairly accurate, shapes of continents less distorted than gore map. North and south distances distorted.

Robinson’s projection

popular for textbooks, best elements from others. minimizes all four kinds of distortion

planar/azimuthal projection

flat plane—flat sheet of paper is placed on an imaginary wire globe, only touching one point —most accurate in center, distorted near edges—good for compact areas surrounded by water

conic

cone touches entire line of latitude, most accurate where cone touches line, becomes gradually distorted away — good for wide regions such as US

relief map

has contour lines of separate colors showing things like elevation

thematic maps

records gathering of information of a specific region/nation

parts of map

legend, compass rose, scale

branches of geography

physical/human

without water

death

2/3 freshwater

polar ice caps, glaciers, underground

%freshwater

<3%

ocean boundaries

marked by continents and ocean ridges, dividing marine areas.

world ocean

whole system of oceans

tributaries

rivers that feed other rivers

river system

a main river and all its tributaries

headwaters

source of river

mouth

where it empties into the ocean

length

nile is longest (maybe AMAZON)

missouri river

longest in us

discharge

amount of water flowing out into ocean

amazon discharge

200 miles freshwater into ocean

drainage area

size of drainage basin, total land area drained by main river + tributaries

amazon drainage

largest drainage area

missouri river

largest drainage basin

navigability

depth—how far up river ocean-going vessel can go

amazon navigability

longest navigability

mississippi navigability

second longest

major cities on rivers

navigability, drinking water, power

lakes

bodies f water fully surrounded by water

great lakes of N. America are the

largest system of freshwater lakes in the world

salt water lakes

bottom of depression, no outflow, salts accumulate

lake titicaca

south america, highest navigability, andes mountains

lake chad

in africa

lake victoria

largest in africa, second largest freshwater lake in the world

lake baikal

in asia, deepest (mile +), largest freshwater lake BY VOLUME

caspian sea

in asia, world’s largest lake, salty, below sea level, minerals left behind when water evaporate

dead dea

30% salt, saltiest in world located between Israel and Jordan

utah salt lake

10-25% salt

ocean salt

3%

seas

arm of the ocean partially enclosed by land

harbor

a smaller, sheltered body of deep water next to the shore

wetlands

an area of stagnant water

bogs

spongy areas that look dry but are covered in wet, organic water

marsh

visible standing water with grasses and small water plants that survive their roots submerged (everglades)

swamps

covered by standing water. large trees, marshes do not

Ural mountains

divides asia and europe

Australasia

Australia + new Guinea islands + South Pacific

continental islands

would be part of a nearby continent if the ocean was a little lower (british isles)

oceanic islands

rise from ocean floor (ex micronesia)

mountains

-stand high above surrounding landscape

mountain ranges

when mountains stand together

highest mountain range

himilayas

mountains influence

• weather

• climate

• vegetation

• patterns of human settlement

• cultures, languages, dialects, national borders

plains

wide areas of level land; high or low elevation—not always flat

plains in coastal areas

coastal plains

___are the most valuable landform for farmers

plains; rivers bring water and sediment from mountains and a soil rich in alluvium

alluvial plains

are flat, low-lying areas formed by the deposition of sediment from rivers, making them highly fertile and suitable for agriculture. (congo basin)

plateaus

wide areas of relatively flat land, like plains, but they rise abruptly over surrounding land; table lands; any elevation

highlands

rugged plateaus

many deserts

on plateaus

piedmont

plateaus between mountains and coast

intermountain

plateaus between mountains

continental plateau

plateaus that stretch across large parts of a continent

industry

people’s hard work to make a living

primary industry

most basic that have been around for all time—direct contact with land/water

primary industry types

agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining

agriculture types

farming, animal husbandry

substinence husbandry

nomadic herding

commercial husbandry

ranching

subsistence farming

farming only what you and your household needs to eat

agricultural revolution Great Britain, turn of 18th century

spread to America → commercial farming

three words used in relation to man’s job and creation

tend, care, rule

motivation of people who damage creation

prioritizing short-term gains over long-term sustainability.

second largest export commidity

seafood

2 main varieties of sea food

fish and seaweed

methods to obtain seafood

capture and aquaculture

seafood companies under pressure because

ensure continuation in future

forestry

wood → paper, lumber, fruit, medicine, make up, glues, etc.

most important primary industry

mining

metals

shiny, malleable, ductile, conductive

types of metals

precious metals, common metals, alloys