Geography Midterm Review

  • geography- the detailed study of the earth and how people relate to the earth and one another

  • prime meridian- line of longitude that passes through Greenwich, England, and is designated 0°

  • Great Circle- cuts the earth into two equal halves, made by the prime meridian and the 180 meridian

  • longitude- the distance east or west of the prime meridian measured in degrees

  • latitude- the distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees

  • equator- imaginary line that divides the earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

  • Mental map- a person’s perception of the world or a part of it based on available knowledge

  • cylindrical projection- map projection based on tracing shadows cast when a paper is wrapped in the shape of a cylinder around a wire globe

  • interrupted projection- map projection that is interrupted with gaps or cuts

  • GIS- geographic information system technology use to make modern maps

  • remote sensing- geographic information gathered by aircraft or satellites

  • legend- part of a map that displays the meaning of the symbols on the map

  • compass rose- a symbol that displays the orientation of the map

  • scale- calibrated line that indicates distance on a map

  • relief maps- maps that show specific changes in elevation

  • contour maps- lines of separate colors on a relief map to indicate all points on a map that have the same altitude

  • thematic maps- map that records gathered information about climate, population, or resources of a nation or region

  • GPS- global positioning system of satellites

  • Culture- the system of customs and traditions and habits that a group of people uses to make something of their world

  • Multiculturalism- the view that all cultures are equally valid and no culture is better than another

  • culture hearths- the locations where different cultures appeared around the world

  • language families- A group of languages that share many common characteristics

  • culture region- a distinct area in which a specific culture thrives

  • nation- a group of people with a common heritage, culture, and homeland

  • ethnic groups- a people or nation that shares a common birth 

  • cultural diffusion- the spread of cultural traits from one culture to another

  • autocracy- a government whose ruler has unlimited authority

  • dictatorship- ruled by a person or group with the authority of military strength

  • theocracy- government ruled by religious or divine authority 

  • oligarchy- a small group of people who hold ultimate authority

  • democracy- a form of government whereby the people rule themselves

  • republics- a government characterized by a representative system and operated according to a constitution

  • foreign policy- the set of principles that guides a government’s international relations

  • natural borders- borders such as oceans, mountains, rivers, or deserts (most secure)

  • geometric borders- a boundary usually drawn as a straight line to connect specific points or to follow a line of latitude or longitude (least secure)

  • cultural boundary- a border drawn to segregate the people of different ethnicities (not very secure)

  • Diplomacy- the art of negotiating agreements between nations

  • Economics- the study of the process by which people make a living, buy and sell, grow crops, manufacture goods, and provide services

  • Capitalism- a free market economy in which anyone may go into business in an attempt to make a profit; most businesses are privately owned instead of government owned

  • Socialism- an economic system in which the government owns the major industries and promises to make production decisions for the welfare of society; a command economy

  • command economy- a system in which government determines what industries are developed where they are built and what they produce

  • mixed economy- attempt to combine elements of capitalism and socialism

  • Communism- the most radical form of socialism in which the government owns everything and allows no private property of free market business transactions

  • GDP- Gross Domestic Product; the monetary value of all the goods and services produced in one year within a country’s border

  • Industry- Human exertion of any kind employed for the creation of value

  • highly developed countries- a country with a wide range of industries that take full advantage of its people’s skills

  • newly industrialized countries- countries that have transitioned from primarily agricultural industries to goods producing industries

  • developing countries- a country whose industries do not take full advantage of its natural or human resources

  • Demography- the study of population characteristics

  • birth rate- the number of children born each year per one thousand people 

  • Continental Divide- line of mountains that determines where the waters flowing from each side will drain on a continent.

  • Aquifer- underground layer of of water bearing rock or sediment from which groundwater can be extracted 

  • Headwaters- source of a river

  • Manufacturing Belt- region in the American Northwest and great lakes regions where manufacturing was concentrated until the 1960s 

  • Sunbelt- region in the south  and southwest that manufacturing moved to during the 1960s

  • core values- ideals that forge a common culture and bind a people together 

  • MTD- Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: a modern religious philosophy in America 

  • Drought- extended period with little or no rainfall

  • groundwater depletion- drawing to much water from aquifers

  • clear cutting- the total removal of trees in a given area

  • old growth forest-  Forests that are populated with mature trees which have not experienced significant disturbance 

  • Eutrophication- The increase of nutrients in a lake or stream that causes an increase in algae and bacteria, reduces oxygen levels, and increases the cloudiness of water.

  • invasive species- Plants and animals not native to a country that are brought into the country, with unintended consequences

  • Cordillera- a chain of mountains 

  • Province- a region of a country: a tract or district

  • Timberline- the altitude of a mountain system at and above which trees do not grow

  • Chinook Winds- a wind phenomenon in North America that causes a dramatic warming during the winter

  • Parliamentary System- a representative government led by a parliament and a prime minister

  • prime minister- the executive of a parliamentary republic

  • First Nations- the native peoples of Canada 

  • Aminism- religious belief that ascribes spiritual powers to animals, plants, and other aspects of nature

  • land bridge- strip of land that connects two large landmassess

  • rain forests- dense jungles filled with biodiversity

  • Isthmus- narrow land bridge that connects two larger landmasses

  • Archipelago- a large group of islands

  • Ring of Fire- a zone of earthquake and volcanic activity around the edge of the Pacific Ocean

  • Vertical Climate Zone- tropical regions in latin america with specific patterns of growth based on elevation

  • Maquiladoras- plants built by American and Japanese companies in Mexico where goods are manufactured and then sent for final assembly to the companies that own the plants

  • NAFTA- North American Free Trade Agreement; 1993 pact that facilitated free trade between Canada, Mexico, and the US

  • USMCA- trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada; signed December 2019 by President Donald J. Trump (pookie)

  • squatter- someone who lives illegally in an unoccupied building or on unused land 

  • dialects- local languages

  • primate city- the largest city in a country; also significantly larger than other cities in that country

  • Mestizo- person of Amerindian-Spanish descent

  • migration- movement of people to a new area

  • syncretism- the blending of aspects of various religions to form a new religion

  • Deforestation- the process of removing trees for logging, farming, or grazing

  • sustainable development- meeting the needs of the present generation without denying future generations the capacity to meet their needs

  • Llanos- broad grassy plains that cover the northeastern corner of Colombia and Central Venezuela

  • Pampas- a region in South America with vast grasslands and a semiarid climate

  • Escarpments- a steep face or edge of a ridge 

  • estuary- the widening mouth of a river as it approaches the ocean, where it tends to form a delta

  • junta- a council of military and civilian leader who seize power, often resulting in civil wars

  • multiactive- a culture that has characteristics of both high and low contexts

  • Carnival- literally means “farewell to meat,” a festival that occurs before Lent

  • leaching- the dissolving of soil minerals by water and their removal downward through the soil