THE CONCEPT AND INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
What is geography?
Geography: is the study of man and his environment. However the term "Geography" come from or derived from two Greek words which are, Geo and Graphea.
i. "Geo: Which means the Earth.
ii. Graphea/Grapher: means to write or draw.
Therefore by the combination of two words we get the word Geographea. However Geographea: Means to write and drawing about the earth.
BRANCHES OF GEOGRAPHY
There are three main branches of geography namely: -
i. Physical geography.
ii. Human and economic geography.
iii. Practical geography
1. Physical geography: Is the branch of geography which deal with studying of Landform formation processes, weather and climate. Is the branch of geography which based on studying of all physical features. Example of physical features are such as, landforms (Mountain, valleys, plains), lands, weather, water bodies and vegetation.
2. Human and economic geography/ regional geography: Is branch of geography which deals with study of all human activities.
Example of human activities
i. Mining
ii. Agriculture.
iii. Transportation.
iv. Settlements.
v. Tourism
vi. Fishing.
3. Practical geography: Is branch of geography which deal with practical acivities on studying of geographical phenomenas.
Branches of practical geography
i. Map works.
ii. Statistics.
iii. Survey.
iv. Research .
v. Photography.
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING GEOGRAPHY
1. To develops awareness about our country our heritage.
2. To expands our knowledge of employment opportunities.
3. To develop skills for solving environment problems. Example pollution.
4. To develops knowledge about natural resources. E.g Land, forests, mineral deposits, water etc.
5. It provides base for specialization career. Example: cartographer, climatology, geologist etc.
6. It provides us knowledge to solve different problems. E.g environment problems.
7. It helps to understand the interelation between geographical phenomena. E.g water bodies and climate, etc.
INTERELATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL PHENOMENAS
There is various geographical phenomenas related to geography,
1. Climate and water bodies: climate influence the availability of water bodies likewise water bodies influence the climate of the place.
2. Climate and vegetation: vegetation influence the climate of the place since it regulate temperature but in other hand climate support the growth of vegetation.
3. Climate and human activities: climate determine the kind of human activities of the given place but in other hand human activities infulence human activities
4. Climate and soil formation: soil formation is influenced by climate both temperature and rainfal.
5. Land surface and climate
6. Vegetation and living organism.
All these are related to each other.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Environment: is the tatal natural and artificial things that surroundings organisms which influence direct or indirect their growth and development.
MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Environmental components can be grouped into two areas which are BIOTIC and ABIOTIC.
1. Biotic component: It comprises all living things like animals, plants (flora) and (fauna) and micro organism.
2. Abiotic component: It stand to all non living things like Air, water bodies, soil rocks, landforms.
Minor components of the environment
Environment has the following major five physical components which are:-
i. Atmoshere (air).
ii. Biosphere (Living parts).
iii. Hydrosphere (water bodies)
iv. Criyosphre (Ice parts)
v. Lithosphere (land).
IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENT TO MAN
1. Environment provide varieties of raw material which used in the industries such as mineral water, tree products.
2. Environment ensure availability of food for living organism.
3. Environment provides habitats for living organism.
4. Environment help in the transport and communication through water, land and air.
5. Environment provide energy resources such as H.E.P. Thermal power, solar power geothermal power
6. They accelerate the development of tourism activities: Some of landscapes, water bodies and Flora and Fauna are pleasing to the eyes hence
7 . They support economic development: the environment contain variety of natural resources includes forest, minerals, water, fish and air which can be exploited by people for various human need.
Relationship of between development and environment
1. Resources from the environment provide livelihood and play different roles in different economic sectors like agriculture, mining, tourism, etc
2. Environment provides construction materials fuel woods medic, water and food.
3. Environment provides resources for human development land, minerals, forest, water
4. Development converts the environment into further usable forms. These forms alter and limit further opportunities for future development.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
1. Mention three branches of practical geography
2. Why are we studying geography? (give three reasons and examples).
3. Why do we depends environment?
