Region
Spatial divisions of Earth's surface with definable characteristics.
Regions are portions of the Earth's surface broadly divided by physical characteristics, human impact characteristics, or the interaction of humanity and the environment. They are important in geography for describing spatial areas, with boundaries that are often imprecisely defined or transitory, except in human geography where jurisdiction areas like national borders are legally defined. Regions range from global continental and oceanic divisions to subregions bounded by large geological features, and are studied across many branches of geography, including regional geography itself.
- field
- Geography
- types
- Physical, human, environmental, continental, historical, tourism, natural resource, religious
- key_concept
- Spatial areas with definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries
- related_disciplines
- Regional geography, ethnography, biogeography, environmental geography
- measurement
- Areal extent often expressed in square kilometres or hectares
Lore & Background
Regions are described as areas, zones, lands, or territories that can be divided by physical geography (natural features), human geography (human impact), or environmental geography (interaction of humanity and environment). Continental regions are conceptual constructs based on broad human history, often lacking distinct boundaries, and are used to reduce large areas for study. Examples include the Amazon basin and the Sahara, which occupy significant percentages of their continents.
Reader's Guide
The concept of regions is fundamental to geography, enabling the study of spatial areas across scales from global continents and oceans to local subregions. Regional geography specifically studies the uniqueness or character of regions, combining natural and human elements. Historical regions, such as those described by D. W. Meinig in The Shaping of America, illustrate how regions can be defined by colonization areas rather than political boundaries. Tourism regions are designated by governments or bureaus to attract visitors, often evoking positive qualities. Natural resource regions, like coal regions or oil fields, blend physical geography with economic and cultural dimensions. The field of ethnography describes regions in human geography, while environmental geography links physical and human aspects. Regions remain a key tool for understanding the Earth's diversity.
Did You Know?
- Regions are also called areas, zones, lands, or territories.
- Continental regions are conceptual constructs usually lacking distinct boundaries.
- Historical regions can be defined by colonization areas rather than political boundaries.
- Natural resource regions can become economic and cultural regions through development.
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