Essential Geography and Economic Concepts Explained
Theme 1: Geographical Landforms
Mountain: Natural elevation of the land.
Plain: Flat surface of considerable size.
Plateau: Elevation of land characterized by a surface at a certain altitude.
Depression: Large area at an altitude inferior to surrounding relief, often resulting from river erosion.
Continental Shelf: Maritime zone up to 400m that slopes gently.
Island: Portion of land surrounded by water. A set of islands is an archipelago.
Cape: Relief from the coast that extends into the sea.
Gulf: Rounded entry of the sea.
Bay: Sea entry similar to a gulf but smaller and more rounded.
Peninsula: Piece of land surrounded by water on most sides, connected by an isthmus.
Theme 2: Climate Zones
Equatorial: The equatorial rain forest grows in a climate with temperatures around 25°C and frequent precipitation. Vegetation is lush, and water is plentiful.
Tropical: The savanna is located in the tropical climate zone; temperatures are high throughout the year, and rainfall is abundant only in summer. Vegetation consists of tall grass.
Desert: Almost no vegetation exists. It is very hot during the day and cold at night; the population gathers in oases.
Continental: Features moderate temperatures and rainfall, distinguished by four distinct seasons.
Oceanic (Atlantic): Characterized by mild temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year.
Mediterranean: Temperatures are warm with mild winters; rainfall is abundant in spring and autumn.
Theme 3: Production and Economy
Production: The combination of natural resources, technology, and labor to obtain goods for human consumption.
Marketing: Commercialization including storage, transport, and sales necessary to bring goods to people.
Consumption: Buying goods and services to satisfy human needs.
Factors of Production
- Natural Resources: The most important source for producing consumer goods.
- Labor: Human activity that serves to produce goods and services.
- Capital: Essential assets including money, buildings, facilities, and machinery.
Economic Agents: People or entities that intervene decisively in the functioning of the economy.
Agricultural Systems
Dry Farming: Crops receive water only from rain.
Irrigation Farming: Water is extracted from underground or reservoirs and distributed through channels.
Extensive Agriculture: Practiced in places with large land areas and little labor; machinery performs most of the work.
Intensive Agriculture: Practiced where land is scarce and properties are small; uses fertilizers, selected seeds, and significant manpower.
Monoculture: Agricultural space specialized in a single crop.
Polyculture: Agricultural space divided into many sites where various species are cultivated.