Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Geography

The Concept of Urban Quality:

Number of Inhabitants: The number of inhabitants is crucial for understanding a human agglomeration, however, there's no consensus on a minimum population size.

Density: City centers are characterized by high population density in a confined space. In contrast, residential neighborhoods with detached houses have a discontinuous structure and are considered low-density.

Economic Activity: While cities often have primary sector activities, they are characterized by the diversity of their inhabitants' economic activities.

Territorial Influence: Cities concentrate activities, becoming centers of power, creativity, and opportunity. This concentration drives population flow.

Architecture: City architecture is characterized... Continue reading "Understanding Urban Quality: Inhabitants, Activities, and Agents" »

Key Aspects of the Industrial Era

Population Growth and Agricultural Expansion

The Demographic Revolution

Since the mid-17th century, Europe's population began a process of significant growth, often referred to as the Demographic Revolution.

Causes:

• Increased agricultural production
• Improved hygiene
• Advancements in medicine

Consequences:

• Decreased mortality rates
• Increased birth rates

The Agricultural Revolution

The growing population led to increased demand for products, which in turn caused prices to rise, spurring the Agricultural Revolution.

Technological Innovations and Industry

With a growing population and agricultural advancements, technological innovation emerged as another basic element of transformation during this period.

The Textile Industry

In... Continue reading "Industrial Revolution: Economic and Social Transformations" »

Ecology Basics and Biomes

Fundamental Ecology Terms

Environment

Environment is the framework within which living beings develop. Everyone needs a minimum for survival, as the difference.

Ecology

Ecology is the science studying the interactions of organisms with the environment.

Population

Population is a group of individuals of the same species occupying a particular geographic area.

What happens when population increases?

Intraspecific competition.

What is intraspecific competition?

Occurs between individuals of the same population to obtain resources.

Competition (Interspecific)

Competition takes place between two populations competing for food resources.

Ecological Interactions

Mutualism

Mutualism occurs between two species and is beneficial for both.

Parasitism

Parasitism:... Continue reading "Ecology Basics and Biomes Explained" »

Agricultural Landscapes of the Valencia Region

The map shows the types of agricultural landscapes to be found in the Valencia region. We can distinguish between four groups:

• Coastal Areas: In the coastal areas, the most intensive irrigation can be found. Crops include citrus, vegetables, and rice, favored by the mild climate and thermal effects regularizing the sea. These are flat areas such as the Castellón, the central plain of Valencia, or South Alicante.
• Intermediate Territory (200-600 meters): Wooded farming dominates, with carob, olive, and almond trees, vineyards, and small vegetable gardens being the most important. These territories are found in the interior corridors of the Maestrat, Palancia, the high valley, foothills of the Turia,

Urban Forms

The entire city and its peripheral nuclei give rise to a new type of urban settlement: the Metropolitan Area. This is an urban entity where a larger nucleus, the oldest and most dynamic, organizes a large area encompassing several satellite towns or dormitory cities. These maintain intensive exchanges with the principal core. The existence of roads facilitates movement and contributes to its growth. This phenomenon coincided with the rural exodus during the 1960s. There was chaos in urban growth, uncontrolled due to poor planning and ignoring Land Law. Buildings were constructed too high, traditional rules were not respected, heritage was undervalued, and there was little interest in urban progress. Communication and transportation... Continue reading "Understanding Metropolitan Areas and Urban Challenges" »

The Demographic Imbalance

The demographic imbalance:

* The rapid growth of developing countries hinders development due to strong investments required for food, education, and health. As a result, these countries frequently experience hunger, malnutrition, illiteracy, and a low average standard of living. Most poor countries have adopted birth control policies.

* The aging of developed countries entails high costs in pensions, health, and social support. Many countries have adopted measures to encourage births.

The population increase, along with the excessive consumption of resources, causes a severe strain on the environment.

- Migration: population movements from the place of origin to another destination, redistributing the population in the

The Evolution of Spanish External Migration

Decline of Permanent Migration Since 1973

From 1973, permanent migration from Spain to Europe declined significantly. This shift was primarily driven by the economic crisis, which led to rising unemployment in Western European countries. Consequently, many Spanish emigrants returned home. Today, Spanish external migration is predominantly seasonal and temporary.

Consequences of Spanish Migration

External migration has had major demographic, economic, and social consequences for Spain.

Demographic Consequences

• Manifested in the attrition (loss) of the Spanish population and affected its distribution across the territory.

Economic Consequences

The economic consequences were mixed:

• Positive effects: Initially,

Urban Planning: Theory and Practice

The ordering of urban space is handled by urbanism. This discipline has a theoretical dimension (urban theory) and a practical dimension (urban planning), which includes the entire municipal territory—i.e., rural land and urban areas. Its aim is to design new spaces for future growth and transform existing ones according to the social demands of each historical period.

Early Urban Planning Efforts (19th–20th Century)

Between the second half of the nineteenth century and the first third of the twentieth century, the first urban planning efforts took place, coinciding with the time that urban growth exceeded the preindustrial city walls.

Key Planning Adjustments

• Geometric Expansion Plans: Established urban street

Essential Glossary of Demographic Terms

Aging of the Population

A demographic trend characterized by an increase in the proportion of the population aged 65 or over, often defined when this group exceeds 12% of the total population.

Active Population (Labor Force)

A group of people aged 16 or over who provide labor for productive activities, are available for work, and are seeking incorporation into the labor market.

Actual Population

The group of individuals physically present in a territory at a specific time, composed of usual residents and temporary visitors.

Baby Boom

A period of strong growth in birth rates, usually occurring after a period of crisis (e.g., war or economic depression).

Census

The official process of counting individuals in a population... Continue reading "Key Demographic Terms and Population Concepts Defined" »

Migration movements are movements of people from their countries of origin to others that may be permanent or temporary.

• The movement from the place of origin to a destination is called emigration. The person who performs it is an emigrant.
• In the place of destination, the arrival of people from other countries receives the name of immigration. People arriving are called immigrants.

The difference between immigrants and emigrants in a region is net migration. Immigrants, as they provide an effective increase, add to the total population, while emigrants who leave must be subtracted.

Net migration = Immigration - Emigration

• If the number of immigrants is higher than that of emigrants, net migration is positive and the population increases.
• If the