The Five Themes of

Geography Identification
Slide Show

Developed by
Joseph Naumann

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5 Themes & Geographic Questions

PLACE
LOCATION
HUMAN
ENVIRONMENT/
INTERACTION

REGION

MOVEMENT 2
Location – determining the position
of a place on the earth’s surface
1. Absolute location – precise
positioning – latitude and longitude
are the best.
GIS gives this new meaning
Automobile systems linked to satellites
2. Relative location – describing in
relation to other, known places such
as landmarks and unusual, easily
recognizable features.
Used by most people in giving directions 3
 RELATIVE ABSOLUTE
From UMSL, drive north on
South Florissant Road through Where is 38º N and 95ºW?
Ferguson. Continue north past I-
270. At the second stop light,
you should see a log cabin and
tennis court and large water tank
on the left side of the road.
Continue to the next street, St.
Catherine. You will see a
Sinclair Oil gas station on the
left. Immediately across the
street is a small strip shopping
center. The center store is Old
Town Donuts. Make a right turn
into the parking lot and go in.
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 Place – those features that give character
to a location (a degree of uniqueness).
1. Physical place – natural features – what nature
provides – climate, landforms, vegetation, etc.
Can many places no longer be called physical
places – where might the human influence be
absent today? This relates to the theme of
human/environment interaction.
2. Human (cultural) place – features added by
humans – distinctive dress, architecture, language,
religion, burial practices, agricultural practices, etc.
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HUMAN PLACE PHYSICAL PLACE

PRODUCED BY HUMANS CREATED MAINLY BY

Distinctive type of boat NATURE
associated with south Pacific Arid area with exotic stream at
islands the foot of a great escarpment or
mountain range.
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HUMAN PLACE PHYSICAL PLACE

CREATED BY NATURE
PRODUCED BY Volcanic mountains
HUMANS which influence soil
Distinctive type of fertility and present
dress, musical hazardous living
instrument & music conditions 7
Human/Environment Interaction
1. Human adaptations to natural
conditions.
Heavy coats in winter
Elevated housing in areas prone to
flooding
2. Changes in natural conditions made
by humans.
Digging canals
Changing the vegetation – farming, etc. 8
HUMANS ADAPT - HUMANS CHANGE

Humans had to adapt Faster, easier

their construction transportation was
methods to the arctic
important enough for
environment when they
built the Alaska them to construct
pipeline. tunnels through the
mountains. 9
Humans change things
The Netherlands
versus the Sea.
Humans have
reclaimed land from
the sea at least for
now

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Movement – the transfer of material and non
material things from place to place
1. Material things – involving
tangible objects transported in a
variety of ways
Animal and animal-powered means
Land, water, and air vehicles
2. Non-material things –
information, power, culture traits
Fashions, trends, fads, etc.
Electronic media, etc. 11
MATERIAL NONMATERIAL

Material objects Nonmaterial entity

(cargo & passengers) (data, pictures, &
are transferred from conversations)
one place to another move invisibly from
by an airplane. one place to many
others. 12
Regions – mental constructs expressing some
commonality or uniformity
1. Formal Regions – possesses a single common
feature or a limited combination of features
throughout the area
Political units such as states and counties
2. Functional Regions – An operational unit
based on organization, structure, and
interactions
The hinterland of a major city
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FORMAL
REGION

The different colors stand for territory added to

Russia during different periods of time. The
common feature for each color is the time period in
which it was added to Russia. 14
FUNCTIONAL
REGION
Coal mining is at
the heart of the
economy of all
these counties.
Many factors are
related to the
coal mining
industry. The
deposits influence
movement and
settlement
patterns. 15
 Different sets of criteria produce
different versions of a region
Common core area

All three are anchored around a core area, but

the peripheral areas of the regions differ
markedly. 16
Human Place & Interaction 17
Physical Place

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Human/
Environment
Interaction and
Human Place

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Movement, Interaction, Urban Region,
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