This document defines and provides examples of different types of regions in geography. It begins by defining a region as an area with common features that can be natural or artificial. It then discusses three main types of regions: formal regions, which have political or administrative boundaries; functional regions, which are defined by a particular service or function; and vernacular regions, which have loosely defined boundaries based on people's perceptions. Examples are given for each type, such as countries for formal regions, newspaper delivery areas for functional regions, and the Midwest for vernacular regions. The document concludes by listing words used in Jamaica to define vernacular regions locally, such as "downtown" or "river-side."

1. REGION
THEME OF GEOGRAPHY #4

2. Lesson 1
WHAT IS A REGION?

3. Definition of a Region
• A region is an area of land that has common
features.
• A region can be defined by natural or artificial
features.
• Language, government, or religion can define a
region, as can forests, wildlife, or climate.

4. Definition of a Region
• A region is a basic unit of study in geography—a unit of space characterized
by a feature such as a common government, language, political situation, or
landform.
• A region can be a formal country governed by political boundaries, such as
France or Canada; a region can be defined by a landform, such as the
drainage basin of all the water that flows into the Mississippi River; and a
region can even be defined by the area served by a shopping mall.
• Cultural regions can be defined by similarities in human activities,
traditions, or cultural attributes.

5. Describing Regions
The most common feature used to describe regions in Geography are:
• Ethnic
• Cultural
• Linguistic
• Climatic or topographical
• Industrial or urban
• Economic specialization
• Administrative units
• International political areas (the Middle East).

6. Case Study: Middle East Region
The Middle East is considered a
political, environmental, and
religious region that includes parts of
Africa, Asia, and Europe. The region
is in a hot, dry climate. Although the
styles of government are varied
(democracy in Israel and Syria,
monarchy in Saudi Arabia), almost all
of them have strong ties to religion.
The region is where three of the
worlds major religions were founded:
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

7. Case Study: Amazon Region
The Amazon region in South
America is the area surrounding
the Amazon River, which runs
through the northern part of
the continent, including Brazil,
Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. This
region is characterized by warm
temperatures, heavy rainfall, a
large diversity of plant and
animal species, and little
human impact on the
environment.

8. The Purpose of Regions In Geography
Geographers use the regional unit to
map features of particular interest, and
data can be compared between regions
to help understand trends, identify
patterns, or assist in explaining a
particular phenomenon.

9. Purpose of Regions-Types Of Regions
Regions are geographically defined by internal
characteristics that provide a sense of place. Their
boundaries vary with the type of region and each
type has its own meaning and defined purpose.
There are three general types:
1. Formal
2. Functional
3. Vernacular

10. Google forms Activity on Region: Case Studies

11. Lesson 2
FORMAL REGIONS

12. Lesson Objectives
• Define what a formal region is
• Formal regions in Jamaica
• Description of formal regions
• Examples of formal regions with physical borders
• Problems associated with formal boundaries

13. World Political Map - Continental Regions

14. What is a Formal Region?
•A formal region has a governmental,
administrative, or political boundary and
can have political as well as geographic
boundaries that are not open to dispute or
debate.

15. Political Map of Jamaica-Counties

16. Description of Formal Regions
1. Formal boundaries can separate states, parishes, provinces, or countries
from one another.
2. Physical regions have formal boundaries, such as the Rocky Mountains or
Blue Mountains , Amazon Rainforest.
3. An official boundary, such as the boundary of a national park, can be
considered a formal boundary.
4. School districts, constabulary areas, cities, counties, governmental
agencies all have formal boundaries.

17. Political Map of Jamaica-Parishes

18. Examples of Formal Regions
Natural physical geographic features influence where political boundaries of
formal regions are set. If you look at a world map, you will recognize that
many political boundaries are natural features, such as rivers, mountain
ranges, and large lakes. For example:
• between the United States and Mexico, the Rio Grande makes up a portion
of the border.
• between Canada and the United States, a major part of the eastern border
is along the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes.
• Alpine mountain ranges in Europe between Switzerland and Italy.

19. Physical Map of Eurasia

20. Problems Associated with Formal Boundaries
• While geographic features can serve as convenient formal borders,
political disputes will often flare up in adjacent areas, particularly if
valuable natural or cultural resources are found within the geographic
features. Oil drilling near the coast of a sovereign country, for example,
can cause a dispute between countries about which one has dominion
over the oil resources. The exploitation of offshore fisheries can also be
disputed.
• A Neolithic mummy of a man who died in 3300 BCE caused tension
between Italy and Switzerland: the body was originally taken to
Innsbruck, Switzerland, but when it was determined that the body was
found about 90 meters (180 feet) inside the border of Italy, Italian
officials laid claim to the body.

21. Google Forms Mapwork Activity: Formal Regions

22. Lesson 3
FUNCTIONAL REGIONS
January 21, 2021

23. OBJECTIVES- Lesson 3
• Recall definition of the theme ‘region’
• Define functional regions
• Describe functional regions
• Examples of functional regions
• Define vernacular regions
• Examples of vernacular regions
• Words used in Jamaica to defne vernacular regions

24. When discussing Regions remember that:
• A region is a basic unit of study in geography—a unit of space characterized
by a feature such as a common government, language, political situation,
or landform.
• A region can be a formal country governed by political boundaries, such as
France or Canada;
• A region can be defined by a landform, such as the drainage basin of all the
water that flows into the Mississippi River; and
• Cultural regions can be defined by similarities in human activities,
traditions, or cultural attributes.

25. Functional Regions
•Functional Regions have boundaries
related to a practical function within a
given area.

26. Description of Functional Regions
• When the function of an area ends, the functional
region ends and its boundaries cease to exist.
• They function to serve a region and may have
established boundaries for limits of the area to
which they will provide service.

27. Examples of Functional Regions
• A functional region a newspaper service or delivery area.
If the newspaper goes bankrupt, the functional region no
longer exists.
• Church parishes, shopping malls, and business service
areas are other examples of functional regions.
• An example of a common service area—that is, a
functional region—is the region to which a local pizza
shop will deliver.

28. Lesson 3. PART B
Functional Regions

29. Vernacular Regions Defined
• Vernacular regions have loosely defined boundaries based on
people’s perceptions or thoughts.
• Vernacular regions can be fluid—that is, different people may
have different opinions about the limits of the regions
• The limit of a vernacular area is more a matter of perception
and less so a formally agreed-upon criteria of boundary.
Nevertheless, most people would recognize the general area
being discussed when using one of the vernacular terms in a
conversation.

30. Examples Of Vernacular Regions
• On the North American continent in the United States, the
terms Midwest or South have many variations. Each individual
might have a different idea about the location of the
boundaries of the South or the Midwest.
• Various regions of the United States have been referred to as
the Rust Belt, Sun Belt, or Bible Belt without a clear definition
of their boundaries.

31. Examples Of Vernacular Regions
• Vernacular regions include concepts such as the region called the
“Middle East.” Many people have a rough idea of the Middle East’s
location but do not know precisely which countries make up the
Middle East.
• The Amazon is a vernacular region located in South America. It is
the area covered by the Amazon River basin and also includes the
Amazon Rainforest. The Amazon is found in countries such as

32. WORDS USED TO DEFINE VERNACULAR
REGIONS in Jamaica
• Downtown
• Ackee Walk
• Cockpit/Coptick
• Bend-dung
• Riverbed
• Sandpile or sandheap
• Bay-Square
• Valley-Road
• Uptown
• Town-Centre
• River-Side
• Back-Road
• Back-Yard
• Balm-Yard
• Baal-Yard
• Lime-Tree-Lane
• Rasta-City

33. Types of regions
• https://youtu.be/3LVXiM_u_UM