Geography Basics
Geography is the study of the Earth’s physical and human features, their spatial relationships, and the processes that shape them. It is a broad and interdisciplinary field that incorporates elements of natural science, social science, and the humanities.
Geographers seek to understand the complex interactions between the natural environment and human societies, and the ways in which these interactions vary across different regions and cultures.
This category contains articles about introductory concepts in geography. Find resources, books, lesson plans, and maps for teaching geography to all ages. A fun way to learn about geography is through the use of quizzes which are also listed in this category.
Sunday Maptinee: Build a Cork Map
For a fun map making idea, try a cork world map. This video from Parson Woodworking shows how making to make a map of the world using cork.
How to Remember the Difference Between Latitude and Longitude
Here's a simple way to remember the difference between latitude and longitude and which comes first when you encounter a set of coordinates.
Liquid Water on Mars
An article in the Summer 2015 issue of Geography addresses how water and historical climate change have transformed the landscape of Mars.
How to Find a Unique Gift for a Geographer
If you are looking for a unique gift idea for a geographer in your life beyond yet another atlas, globe, or wall map, find some ideas here for unique geographically themed gifts.
Geography of Foucault Pendulums
French philosopher Leon Foucault developed a pendulum to prove that the Earth rotates on its axis. The swing of the pendulum varies depending on its location on Earth.
Spooky Sky Created by a Coronal Mass Ejection
An eerie night sky in Norway as the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME).
Geography Terms Visualized
This chart by the Bancroft Company from around 1870 defines a range of geographical terms.
What is Contemporary Geography?
The study of Geography has always been evolving and at critical times there have always been question such as “why ...
Using Google Earth to Teach Math
Real World Math uses geography lessons to teach math.
The World’s Largest Mass Migration
Surrounding the Chinese New Year is a forty-day travel period known as "Chunyun," meaning “Spring Festival Transport”. Each year, Chinese officials calculate that well over 3 billion passenger trips occur during this period and overwhelms the Chinese transportation system.
The Cultural Geography of Carnival Celebrations around the World
Discover how local pagan and indigenous traditions blend into unique Carnival celebrations in Brazil, New Orleans, Quebec, Italy, and Russia.
Eight Ways Your Geographic Skills Enhance Your Resume
Geographers or anyone with a history of geography education or practice have special skills that can enhance their resumes across nearly all career options. From GIS skills to graphic design to multiculturalism, here are eight ways to market your geography experience as viable job skills.
Relative Direction Versus Compass Direction
Learn about the difference between relative directions and compass directions.
Geography Awareness Week
Geography Awareness Week is a weeklong event geared towards getting people more involved in the geographical world around them. Geography ...
Geography of Daylight Saving Time
Not all countries observe Daylight Saving Time, which entails moving the clocks forward an hour in the spring and backward an hour in the fall.
LANDCARPET: Turning Satellite Imagery into Carpets
This Austrian architect who now lives in Beijing, China has turned his love of the view from above into carpeting made from 100% New Zealand wool.
Five Books about Maps for Young Children
These five books help young children learn about maps and map-making.
Tracking the Evolution of the Field of Geography over 124 Years and 10,290 Dissertations
Kent State University professors David Kaplan and Jennifer Mapes have undertaken a study to understand how academic research in the field of geography has evolved in the United States.
How Much do Geographers Make?
Geographers find work in a variety of disciplines both in the physical and human geography related fields. Geographers are employed ...
Fortune 1000 and Fortune 500 Companies by State for 2014
This table shows the total number of Fortune 1000 and Fortune 500 companies by U.S. state and territory (Puerto Rico). The list can be sorted by state, number of Fortune 1000 companies, and number of Fortune 500 companies.
What is a Map?
A map is something we’ve all likely held in our hands, scratched our heads over or marked with pushpins to ...
History of Geography as a Timeline
Listed here are significant events that happened in the field of Geography.
Topographical Tables – Geography as Art
These furniture designs combine glass, wood, and other materials to emulate the land and water. Ocean Table Christopher Duff of ...
How the Earth’s Magnetic Field is Changing
The ESA recently released the results of data collection from Swarm from the past six months that analyzed changes in the Earth's magnetic field.
Meet a Geographer: Kristina Jacob
Kristina Jacob, a GIS professional, shares her thought about what drew her to both geography and photography.