Geography MEANING From Greek geographia, meaning earth describe-write".

. It is the science that studies the lands, the features, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of the Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes (276-194 BC). Four historical traditions in geographical research are the spatial analysis of the natural and the human phenomena (geography as the study of distribution), the area studies (places and regions), the study of the man-land relationship, and the research in the earth sciences Nonetheless, the modern geography is an all-encompassing discipline that foremost seeks to understand the Earth and all of its human and natural complexitiesnot merely where objects are, but how they have changed and come to be. Geography has been called "the world discipline" and "the bridge between the human and the physical science". Geography is divided into two main branches: the human geography and the physical geography. CONCEPTS 1. Concept of Location Concept of location in geography analyzes the positive and negative aspects of a place on earths surface. Concept of location is usually used to answer the question of where geographic location is divided in two kinds, they are: i. Absolute location, that is location of a region based on latitude and longitude. ii. Relative location that is the location of a region on earths surface that has changing properties because it is influenced by the regions around it. Example: Land in urban area is usually more expensive. 2. Concept of Distance Distance is a natural separator. Distance is related with location and efforts to satisfy basic needs of life. Example: a. Traveling distance to transport raw material to factory, influences the amount of tranportational cost. b. Land that is located far from a highway is cheaper. 3. Concept of Achievability Achievability is related to the condition of earths surface. For example: a region is isolated because its earths surface condition causes it to be hard to reach. Dependency commonly changes according to the development of economy, science and technology and transportation. Example: A village that is surrounded by swamps and forest is usually harder to reach than a village that is located on the beach.

4. Concept of Pattern Pattern is related to dependency on various geographical phenomena on earths surface. Geography learns about patterns of form and spreading of geographical phenomena. Example: a. Pattern of settlements in mountainous area is dominated by spreading pattern. b. Pattern of river in fold regions is commonly trellised. 5. Concept of Morphology Concept of morphology corresponds to the shape of earths surface as product of endogenic and exogenic powers. Example: Low land along Javas north coast is dominated by sugarcane plantation. 6. Concept of Agglomeration Agglomeration is spread that tends to group in a region that is relatively narrow and most profitable. 7. Concept of Utility Value Utility value is geographical phenomenon or natural resource on earths surface that is relative to each other among regions. Example: a. The sea has more utility value for fishermen, compared to farmers. b. Forests have more utility value for natural lovers compared to students. 8. Concept of Interaction Interaction is mutual relationship between two regions or more that can produce new phenomena, appearance and problems. In interaction, one phenomenon depends on another. Example: Interaction of city-village happens because there are differences of natural potentials, for example: the village produces raw material, while the city produces industrial products. Because both regions need each other, then interaction happens. 9. Concept of Area Differentiation Area differentiation corresponds to interregional characteristics on earths surface. Concept of area differentiation is used to study differences of geographical phenomena between one regional another on earths surface. Example: The kinds of plant cultivated in highland will be different from the kinds of plant in low lands. Detailed examples are found in Junghuhns climate, for example: a. Zone of height 0-700m, the kinds of plants cultivated are: sugarcane, coconut and corn. b. Zone of height 700-1500m, the kinds of plants cultivated are: tea, coffee, cacao, tobacco and quinine. c. Zone of height 1500-2500m, have plants such as pine and casuarinas tree. d. Zone of height more than 2500m, the kind of its plants is dominated by fungi.

Besides, concept of area differentiation can also be used to see the kind of means of livelihood, for example inhabitants that live in coastal region have dominant means hood as fishermen, different from people that live in lowland who tend to work as farmers as their means of livelihood. 10. Concept of Spatial Interrelatedness Spatial interrelatedness shows spread relationship between one phenomenon and another, both in terms of physical or non-physical phenomena. Example: Rural and urban areas, for example: inhabitants of urban region need foodstuff from the rural area, on the contrary inhabitants of the rural area need to market their natural products to the city. IMPORTANCE We learn not only about our own country but also about countries beyond the seas. We also learn about the mountains, oceans, islands, lakes, volcanoes, the winds and a number of other interesting things about the world and the universe. Among the important things that we learn in Geography are the infinite varieties of creatures, plants, birds and land features that exist in the world. We know that there are millions of creatures, small and large, of various kinds in all parts of the earth. We also know that many of the early creatures have now become extinct, while many of them have changed from their original forms. Reading about all these is indeed very interesting. We also learn about the various types of plants and birds that exist throughout the world. The plants and birds in the cold lands are not the same as those in warmer lands. In the same way, the land forms in the cold regions are different from those in other regions. In the equatorial regions, for example, plant and animal life is luxuriant, while in the poles the land is covered with snow, and animal and plant life is less abundant. In equatorial regions abundant rain has produced large rivers and lakes, while in areas where little rain falls there are large deserts without many rivers and lakes. As the climate and vegetation of one place are not the same as those of another, the habits and activities of the people of different regions are also different. Even their religious convictions and languages are different from those of other parts of the world. BRANCHES 1. Physical Physical geography consists of many diverse elements. These include: the study of the earth's interaction with the sun, seasons, the composition of the atmosphere, atmospheric pressure and wind, storms and climatic disturbances, climate zones, microclimates, hydrologic cycle,

soils, rivers and streams, flora and fauna, weathering, erosion, natural hazards, deserts, glaciers and ice sheets, coastal terrain, ecosystems, and so very much more. 2. Cultural Cultural geography, also known as human geography, covers a wide swath of human interaction with the land. Human geography is a branch of geography that focuses on the study of patterns and processes that shape human interaction with various environments. It encompasses human, political, cultural, social, and economic aspects. While the major focus of human geography is not the physical landscape of the Earth (see physical geography), it is hardly possible to discuss human geography without referring to the physical landscape on which human activities are being played out, and environmental geography is emerging as a link between the two. Human geography can be divided into many broad categories, such as: Cultural geography Development geography Economic geography Health geography Historical & Time geog. Political geog. & Geopolitics Pop. geog. or Demography Religion geography Social geography Transportation geography Tourism geography Urban geography Various approaches to the study of human geography have also arisen through time and include: Behavioral geography Feminist geography Culture theory Geosophy

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