Geography

Geography is the study of our planet Earth, which includes its land and the people living on it. The word 'Geography' comes from the Greek words 'geo' and 'graphein'. 'Geo' means 'Earth', and 'graphein' means 'to write'. The Earth is a sphere. It is surrounded by a layer of gases called the atmosphere. The surface of the Earth is made up of land and water. In Geography, we learn more about the Earth's physical and human environments. When we look at the physical environment, in Geography we are looking at the natural surroundings in which people, animals and plants live. You will find out more about the physical environment when you look at landforms and rocks, rivers, weather and climate, and natural vegetation in the units that follow.

When we look at the human environment, we are concerned with man-made features, places and activities. People, buildings, agricultural activities and transport networks are examples of components of the human environment. When we study Geography, it is very important for us to understand and know about the physical-human relationships that occur all the time around us. Some physical features and their processes may affect human lives. For example, a big earthquake may cause loss of lives and damage to property. On the other hand, human activities may also affect the physical environment. For example, when people grow crops or build a city, they change the appearance of the Earth.

The Importance Of Geography:

Knowing where countries are on the map is important but Geography is much more than that. Do you know that geographers were among the first scientists to alert the world that human-induced changes are threatening the balance of life? One example of scientific research carried out by geographers is the relationship between the increase in greenhouse gases and global warming. Therefore, Geography helps us understand the changes that take place in the physical and human environments. It is about the real world and is relevant to what goes on around us all the time. Today, geographers can use technology such as Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to gather information and data about the physical world. Using the powerful computer systems available today, information from various sources can be matched to allow geographers to understand geographic events better. The information obtained can also be used to plan cities and solve environmental problems such as flooding.

Questionnaire:

• What is Geography?
• Explain the importance of geography.