Essay Example on Geography: Location, Place, and Region Explored

Introduction

There are a vast number of things learned in geography ranging from physical aspects included in physical geography and human influence on the immediate environment covered in human geography. Some of the major study areas covered in physical geography include location, place, and region. Location defines a given position on the world map; the region defines all interrelated areas defined by similar characteristics. The paper focuses on discussing the major themes in geographies such as location, region, and place.

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Regions

A region refers to an area with Unifying characteristics. A region comprises areas having similar identifiable characteristics. When studying geography, regional study forms a core part. Compressive study in regions helps in addressing aspects such as answering why a given set of areas have similarities. The regional research also helps in understanding how different areas vary. To classify different geographical areas, following the shared characteristics have a significant impact, especially when defining regional boundaries. Physical characteristics serve a role in distinguishing different areas on the earth's surface. Some of the major physical features studied include climate, soil, landforms, and natural vegetation.

A good example is when defining an area covered by mountain peaks and corresponding valleys. Other regions are distinguishable by certain human activities carried out in the region. Therefore, human characteristics such as cultural, political, and social characteristics can be used to classify areas on the earth's surface.

Example of a Region

A good example of the human region In the United States is the Northeast corridor between Washington and Boston due to having high population density. Human characteristics and physical characteristics can be combined to define a region. I am taking an example of the Midwest and South Scandinavia. There is a common belief that a region always covers an extensive area such as the sub-Saharan region. However, a region can be even as small as a classroom, recreational area, industrial park, or a given neighborhood. To diminish the concept of regions, considering some critical aspects such as addressing questions such as the number of areas that can be identified within a given area can greatly help in understanding a region as a geography theme.

Location

The location means a position on the earth's surface. A position can be either relative or absolute region defined by coordinates and physical landmarks consecutively. Location can be used to describe the two branches of geography stated earlier, such as physical and human geography. Places and distribution of people on the earth's surface can be defined using the two-position determination techniques. Perfect location attempts to answer the question, where is it?

Grid drawn on the map is used to describe the absolute location. To obtain the coordinates, both the longitude and the latitude are used. An example of a perfect position in New Orleans which is located within 30 degrees north and 90 degrees west. The absolute position forms the basic part of the geographical research. On the other hand, the relative location gives a place's location by relating to other already known sites. Using the case of New Orleans using relative position, it can be said that New Orleans is located in an area where the Mississippi River enters the Mexican Gulf.

The location of a school can be easily described as three kilometers from a given town, railway station, or related places, which best describes the area the school is located. To identify the location of a spot on the earth's surface, understanding both absolute and relative positions are necessary. A given area location can be easily determined by terrain supported and human-made features hence readily require prior knowledge on basic physical and human-made features. Consequently, to obtain a relative point on the map, it is essential to understand both the latitude and the longitude. Latitudes define how much north or south a point is from the equator. On the other hand, the longitudes represent the proximity of a point to the Prime median. Absolute location is widely used by cartographers to identify human activities requiring identification of a place or position.

Example of Location

The earth assumes a similar concept as geometry on spheres and 360 degrees, forming a sphere or circle. A graticule is a grid that is used to measure the degree of a point. Identifiable degree addresses are obtained from latitudes and longitudes when using the absolute method to get a location on the map. The obtained point is defined using longitudinal and latitudinal suffixes such as west or east, allowing easy location, measurement, and identification of spatial activities.

Cartographers and geographers organize location on the earth's surface using a combination of grid-lines drawn on the globe. As compared to Relative position, Absolute locations give a better definition of a place more accurately than technical means used in Relative location. Therefore, it is easier to locate any point on the planet using a Relative position. When Using Relative position, dynamic areas such as in the middle of a desert or within an area having similar physical features may difficult to adopt.

In geography, location is expressed in relative terms. It means location is given in relative to how a place associates to another. Using this concept, a location is analyzed based on how two areas are related and connected. The relation is done in terms of culture, distance, or technology used by the two. As an example, one can say that a particular city is x kilometers from another. By doing so, it would be analyzing their location in relation to distance.

Based on culture, we can take the example of England and Ukraine. While Ukraine is a landlocked nation, England is an island nation. Also, Compass directions are used to describe the location of a specific place. The location of a place, while using the direction of the place, also relies on its relativity to the other place. From the atlas, the location of Hawaii is west of the United States. Latitudes and longitudes use coordinates to determine the location of a place. Using coordinates, the absolute position of an object, person, or place can be pinpointed. Also, satellites give the absolute location of a place using these coordinates. An example is that the location of a place would be near Greenwich, England if it is the coordinate of the longitude is 0 degrees west, and the latitude is 51 degrees north. Coordinates give the absolute location of a place relative to the prime meridian and equator.

Place: Physical and Human Characteristics

The concept of place helps s to understand the basic idea of livability. Different people live in various places and move to and fro places. Understanding the concept of a place allows us to establish a quality of life. Each place is unique from the other I terms of internal structure. Differences arise in places following socioeconomic inequality. In geography, to measure what matters in a place, geographers have to identify the various physical forms and human-made features and activities.

A place has several domains, such as its location, natural environment, territorial layout, and social features. The social constructs are the features developed and shaped by human behavior alongside their interactions. Any person who is not a geographer should adjust from idealizing that a place is only a location. A place is not a piece of territory, even though data about a certain place are a representation of a specific region. The example below defines the concept of place.

In as much as a place is distinguishable from another by the different people, governments, markets, and institutions involved, it is also identified by natural's resources present. The place is an ensemble concept as it is of sustainability and livability. The idea of place enforces livability since it recognizes how important location and the implication of people are.

People identify a place while associating its identity and its character basing on the experience from other places. Places change over time, mostly because of natural effects or due to the impact of human ideas and technology.

The change of a place is inevitable as time passes by. Considerable inertia is among the important aspects of time concerning a place. Considerable inertia is also termed as the path dependence of a place as it assumes change. Change to place can be diverse in terms of economic specialization, urban setting, institutions involved, and socioeconomic factors, among others. Natural elements, such as effects from erosion, glaciation, among others, can lead to change in place. The example below shows changes to a place due to both factors; natural and human factors.

Conclusion

While analyzing the relationships between different places, artificial boundaries need to be drawn since a place entails both people and the territory at large. Apart from that, geographers describe that a place can be identified in terms of horizontal and vertical characteristics involved. Using the concept of vertical, it refers place to be an interaction of people or environment and people while using laid down guidelines of a given population, consumption, or production. Horizontal means different places interacting in terms of information, capital, people, and goods shared. Migration, communication, relations of trade, and the ability to commute are some examples of horizontal characteristics.

Geographers identify that the concept of place relies on the legacy of past events. Both horizontal and vertical characteristics of a place are attributed to history. Due to this, many natural forms drawn on bibliographies are recognized by the historical writing genre. It is because historical evolution, discrete past events, and changes in economic functionalities alongside cultural norms have been involved in shaping places. New technologies such as the building of roads, railroads have changed financial situations of different places, and thus, they have helped in transforming places. Therefore, the concept of place entails both natural and social factors.