This document outlines the five themes of geography and provides examples from North Carolina: 1. Location - where places are in terms of absolute (latitude/longitude) and relative (near other places) location. It gives the coordinates and neighboring states for North Carolina. 2. Place - the physical (landforms, climate, water) and human (people, culture, buildings) characteristics of places. It describes these for North Carolina. 3. Human-environment interaction - how people adapt to, modify, and depend on their environment. It gives examples of this from North Carolina like dams. 4. Movement - how people, goods, and ideas move between places and link them. It mentions ports and highways in North

1. The Five Themes of
Geography
A Framework for Studying the
World
North Carolina Geographic Alliance
PowerPoint Presentations
2007

2. Theme 1: Location
• Where is It?
• Why is It There?
Two Types of
Location
•Absolute
•Relative

3. Absolute Location
• A specific place on the Earth’s surface
• Uses a grid system
• Latitude and longitude
• A global address

4. North Carolina
Absolute Location
• North Carolina
36° N Latitude
79° W longitude
• Chapel Hill
35° 55' N Latitude
79° 05' W Longitude

5. Relative Location
• Where a place is
in relation to
another place
• Uses directional
words to describe
– Cardinal and
intermediate
directions

6. North Carolina
• North Carolina is bordered by
Virginia on the north, South
Carolina and Georgia on the south,
and Tennessee on the west.
• The Atlantic Ocean forms North
Carolina's east coast.
• North Carolina is one of the
Southeastern States

7. Theme 2: Place
Physical Characteristics
• Land Features
• Mountains, plains,
and plateaus
• Climate
• Bodies of Water

8. North Carolina:
Physical
Characteristics
http://www.wetmaap.org/Cape_Hatteras/ch_tm_2.html
Photos above: Steve Pierce

9. Theme 2: Place
Human Characteristics
• People
• Culture
• Language
• Religion
• Buildings and
Landmarks
• Cities

10. North Carolina: Human
Characteristics
National Geographic Magazine
http://www.rivinus.com/camerastuff/charlotte_nc.htm
Top right:http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/unc/nonsport/school-bio/unc-oldwell2-lg.jpg

11. Theme 3: Human
Environment Interaction
How People Interact With Their
Environment
People . . .
• Adapt to Their Environment
• Modify Their Environment
• Depend on Their Environment
http://www.fotosearch.com/comp/corbis/DGT119/BAG0017.jpg

12. North Carolina: Human
Environment Interaction
http://aam.wcu.edu/grant/images/Fontana%20Dam%20Shirley.jpg
http://www.ee.duke.edu/~sag8/Duke/02-03/PiKA/Fall%20Break/Fall_Break_02.htm
http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/dukemag/issues/091002/images/mallc.jpg

13. Theme 4: Movement
The Mobility of
• People
• Goods
• Ideas
How Places are
linked to one
another and the
world

14. North Carolina: Movement
http://www.marad.dot.gov/Gallery/MoreheadCity/pages/Ming%20Europe.htm
http://www.evertize.com/land/images/I-40-64%20interchange.JPG

15. Theme 5: Regions
What Places Have in Common
• Political Regions
• Landform Regions
• Agricultural Regions
• Cultural Regions

16. North Carolina: Regions
http://home.neo.rr.com/rodsphotogallery/NaturalWonders/SeaSand/Images/JockeysRidge.jpg
http://www.shorebirdworld.org/fromthefield/Images/Hatteras%20Light.JPG
http://www.homestead.com/pncfa/files/piedmontmap.jpg
http://www.ncbbi.org/images/piedmont-images/piedmont-nc-heartland-golf.jpg
Steve Pierce