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

Importance of Industry in Contemporary Society

Industry makes a significant contribution to the economic structure and triggers a series of changes. Key concepts include:

• Industrial Area: The area occupied by the physical plant of industry.
• Industrialized Space: The network of visible and invisible flows generated by industrial activity.

Classical Theories of Industrial Location

On the Location of Industry by Alfred Weber (1909) proposes that the optimum location for any business is one that minimizes the costs of transporting raw materials and energy consumed at the factory, and processed products to markets, measured in tons/km (isodapana concept).

To explain industrial areas, the following should be considered:

1. Industrial activity occupies a definitive

Population

Concept

The distribution of people living in an area or place has its own characteristics and pursues common goals.

Distribution of the Population by Region

• Coast-Mountain Region: 20% of the territory, 78.7% of the population
• Llanera Central Depression: 35% of the territory, 15.5% of the population
• Guayana Region: 45% of the territory, 5.5% of the population

Causes of the Uneven Distribution of Population

• Geographical position of the Andean region
• Climate-friendly agricultural soils and abundant water
• Construction of good communication channels
• Extensive network of services

Consequences of the Unequal Distribution of Population

• High population concentration in small areas leading to overcrowding, crime, and lack of services
• Abandonment of farming

Characteristics

Agricultural Landscapes in Spain

The Wet Spain Landscape

This region comprises the north and northwest of the peninsula. It has hilly terrain and a rainy oceanic climate throughout the year.

Agrarian Structure

The agrarian structure is characterized by:

• Traditionally, a very large population, now reduced and generally older.
• Predominance of small farms and small fields surrounded by hedgerows, often located far apart.

Land Uses

Land uses in this area include:

1. Agriculture: Occupies a small area, primarily dedicated to rain-fed agriculture. Currently, polyculture has been disappearing, with agriculture increasingly specializing in horticulture (gardening).
2. Livestock Farming: This is the most important economic activity, favoured by climatic conditions

Diverse Settlement and Ethnic-Cultural Landscape

In a very short time, our continent received a lot of migration, which left a special imprint on the native people. In the U.S., the first British colonizers were joined (17th and 18th centuries) by nearly 1 million African slaves. In the 19th century, many European immigrants arrived, adding well over 400 million people, not only from Europe but also from Asia. In Canada, the population growth was slower, reaching only 600 thousand inhabitants, while the U.S. had 4.5 million. This was mainly due to the installation of the railway, which favored the central plains, doubling the population. In general, poor immigrants were arriving in these two countries in search of jobs and economic progress,... Continue reading "Migration and Cultural Diversity in the Americas" »

Transportation has profoundly influenced societal development, facilitating urban expansion, specialized economic activities, and greater accessibility. While early forms of transport saw gradual change, significant shifts occurred over time.

Until the 1950s, the railroad was a primary mode of transport, a role that began to be challenged by road transport from 1956 onwards. Air travel also moves large volumes of people and merchandise.

Users typically choose a transport system based on factors such as travel time, accessibility, and flexibility of travel conditions.

Strategic Investments in Spanish Transport Infrastructure (Post-1986)

Since 1986, substantial investments in infrastructure have prioritized road and rail transport, driven by several... Continue reading "Spain's Transportation Network: Evolution and Impact" »

Roman Hispania: Conquest and Influence

The Romans dominated the Italian peninsula and aimed to control Mediterranean trade and create a vast empire. Their main rivals, the Carthaginians, were established in the Iberian Peninsula. To dominate the peninsula, the Romans landed in Emporion in 218 BC. The Roman conquest of the peninsula lasted 200 years and was conducted in three stages:

Mediterranean Coast

The Romans defeated the Carthaginians. The Iberian peoples did not offer resistance.

The Plateau

Its conquest was longer. Indigenous peoples offered greater resistance.

Cantabrian Coast

The geography and the fierceness of its inhabitants (the Celts) made it difficult to conquer.

Roman Cities and Society

Roman City Characteristics:

• Walled
• Grid layout
• Forum

Tourism Services

Many services are common to all tourist destinations, especially those related to hospitality. However, other services depend on the location's dominant expertise.

• Sun and beach destinations: Offer numerous hotel and nightlife services, along with significant commercial sectors dedicated to textiles, souvenirs, and cultural tourism.
• Cultural/Religious tourism destinations: Provide specialized guidance and information services, with religious tourism attracting visitors during specific dates or times of year.
• Congress and business tourism: Focuses on attracting large groups with high spending potential, utilizing purpose-built exhibition centers and conference venues, often located in central or peripheral urban areas.
• Sports tourism:

Primary Sector

The primary sector is the set of activities that obtain resources from nature, including agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing, and mining.

Agricultural Area

The agricultural area is the result of the modification of the countryside by humans.

Extensive Agriculture

This system does not typically use all available human and technical resources for maximum performance.

Intensive Agriculture

This system uses investment and working capital to obtain maximum performance.

Subsistence Agriculture

Characterized by the use of archaic techniques, a strong dependence on the physical environment, low productivity, and a large portion of land and population dedicated to agricultural activity, with production allocated for consumption.

Hydroponics

A... Continue reading "Primary Sector: Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Fishing" »