Geography is one of the oldest sciences in the world. More primitive people studied their terrain, drew the first primitive maps on the walls of their caves. Of course modern science Geography poses completely different tasks. Which ones exactly? What is she studying? And what definition can be given to this science?

Defining Geography: Main Issues and Difficulties

If physics teaches “how”, history explains “when” and “why”, then geography tells “where”. Of course, this is a very simplified view of this subject.

Geography is a very old science. The term itself has ancient Greek roots and is literally translated as “land description”. And its foundation was laid precisely in antiquity. The first geographer is called Claudius Ptolemy, who in the second century published a book with an ambiguous title: “Geography”. The work consisted of eight volumes.

Among other scientists who made a significant contribution to the development of geography as a science, it is worth highlighting Gerhard Mercator, Alexander Humboldt, Karl Ritter, Walter Christaller, Vladimir Vernadsky,

An accurate and uniform definition of geography still remains a rather difficult task. According to one of several interpretations, sciences that study various aspects of the functioning and structure of geography. There is another definition of geography, according to which this science studies the patterns of distribution of any phenomenon across the earth's surface. But Professor V.P. Budanov wrote that although the content of geography is very difficult to determine, its object, without any doubt, is the surface of the entire globe.

Geography as the science of the geographical envelope of the Earth

Nevertheless, the main object of study is the geographical shell of the Earth. Domestic science gives following definition of this term. is a holistic and continuous shell of planet Earth, which consists of five structural parts:

• lithosphere;
• hydrosphere;
• atmosphere;
• biosphere;
• anthroposphere.

Moreover, they are all in close and constant interaction, exchanging matter, energy and information.

The geographic envelope has its own parameters (thickness is approximately 25-27 kilometers), and also has certain patterns. Among these are integrity (unity of components and structures), rhythm (periodic repetition of natural phenomena), latitudinal zonality, altitudinal zonality.

Structure of geographical science

The distinction between natural and thick lines passed through the “body” of the once unified geographical science, scattering its individual disciplines into completely different planes of scientific research. Thus, some physiographic branches are more closely related to physics or chemistry than to population or economics.

Geography of the Earth is divided into two large disciplines.

1. Physical.
2. Social and economic.

The first group includes hydrography, climatology, geomorphology, glaciology, soil geography and others. It is not difficult to guess that they are studying natural objects. The second group includes population, urban studies (the science of cities), regional studies and others.

Connections with other sciences

How closely is geography related to other sciences? What place does it occupy in the system of scientific disciplines?

Geography has the closest connections with such sciences as mathematics, history, physics and chemistry, economics, biology and psychology. Like any other discipline, it is also genetically related to philosophy and logic.

It is worth noting that some of these interscientific connections were so strong that they gave rise to entirely new so-called cross-cutting disciplines. These include the following:

• cartography (geography + geometry);
• toponymy (geography + linguistics);
• historical geography (geography + history);
• soil science (geography + chemistry).

The main geographical problems at the present stage of scientific development

Strange as it may sound, one of the most important geographical problems is the definition of geography as a science. Moreover, methodologists and theorists are so keen on solving this problem that the question has already arisen: does such a science exist at all?

In the 21st century, the role of the predictive function of geographical science has increased. By using huge amount Using analytical and factual data, various geomodels are built (climatic, geopolitical, environmental, etc.).

The main task of geography in modern stage- not only understand the deep connections between natural phenomena and social processes, but also learn to predict them. One of the most important branches of science today is geourbanism. The world's urban population is growing every year. The largest cities on the planet are facing new problems and challenges that require immediate and constructive solutions.

The fascinating subject of geography is a scientific field that studies the earth's surface, oceans and seas, the environment and ecosystems, and the interaction between human society and the environment. The word geography literally translated from ancient Greek means “description of the earth.” Below is general definition geography term:

"Geography is a system of scientific knowledge that studies the physical features of the Earth and environment, including the influence of human activities on these factors, and vice versa. The subject also covers patterns of population distribution, land use, availability and production."

Scientists who study geography are known as geographers. These people are engaged in researching the natural environment of our planet and human society. Although cartographers of the ancient world were known as geographers, today this is a relatively distinct specialization. Geographers tend to focus on two main areas of geographical study: physical geography and human geography.

History of the development of geography

The term "geography" was coined by the ancient Greeks, who not only created detailed maps of the surrounding area, but also explained the differences between people and natural landscapes in different places Earth. Over time, the rich heritage of geography has taken a fateful journey into the brightest Islamic minds. The Islamic Golden Age witnessed amazing achievements in the field of geographical sciences. Islamic geographers became famous for their innovative discoveries. New lands were explored and the first grid base for the map system was developed. Chinese civilization also contributed instrumentally to the development of early geography. The compass, developed by the Chinese, was used by explorers to explore the unknown.

A new chapter in the history of science begins with the period of great geographical discoveries, a period coinciding with the European Renaissance. IN European world a new interest in geography arose. Marco Polo - Venetian merchant and traveler led this new era research. Commercial interests in establishing trade contacts with the rich civilizations of Asia, such as China and India, became the main impetus for travel in those times. Europeans advanced in all directions, discovering new lands, unique cultures and... Geography's enormous potential for shaping the future of human civilization was recognized and, in the 18th century, it was introduced as a core discipline at university level. Based on geographical knowledge, people began to discover new ways and means to overcome the difficulties generated by nature, which led to the flourishing of human civilization in all corners of the world. In the 20th century, aerial photography, satellite technology, computerized systems, and complex software radically changed science and made the study of geography more complete and detailed.

Branches of geography

Geography can be considered as an interdisciplinary science. The subject includes a transdisciplinary approach, which allows you to observe and analyze objects in Earth space, as well as develop ways to solve problems based on this analysis. The discipline of geography can be divided into several areas of scientific research. The primary classification of geography divides the approach to the subject into two broad categories: physical geography and socio-economic geography.

Physical Geography

is defined as a branch of geography that includes the study of natural objects and phenomena (or processes) on Earth.

Physical geography is further subdivided into the following branches:

• Geomorphology: deals with the study of topographic and bathymetric features of the Earth's surface. Science helps clarify various aspects related to landforms, such as their history and dynamics. Geomorphology also tries to predict future changes physical characteristics external appearance of the Earth.
• Glaciology: a branch of physical geography that studies the relationship between the dynamics of glaciers and their impact on the ecology of the planet. Thus, glaciology involves the study of the cryosphere, including alpine and continental glaciers. Glacial geology, snow hydrology, etc. are some subdisciplines of glaciological studies.
• Oceanography: Since the oceans contain 96.5% of all the water on Earth, the specialized discipline of oceanography is dedicated to their study. The science of oceanography includes geological oceanography (the study of the geological aspects of the ocean floor, seamounts, volcanoes, etc.), biological oceanography (the study of marine flora, fauna and ecosystems of the ocean), chemical oceanography (the study of chemical composition sea ​​waters and their effects on marine life forms), physical oceanography (the study of ocean movements such as waves, currents, tides).
• Hydrology: another important branch of physical geography, dealing with the study of the properties and dynamics of the movement of water in relation to land. She explores the planet's rivers, lakes, glaciers and underground aquifers. Hydrology studies the continuous movement of water from one source to another, above and below the Earth's surface, through.
• Soil Science: branch of science that studies various types soils in their natural environment on the Earth's surface. Helps to collect information and knowledge about the process of formation (soil formation), composition, texture and classification of soils.
• : an indispensable discipline of physical geography that studies the distribution of living organisms in the geographic space of the planet. She also studies the distribution of species during geological periods time. Each geographic region has its own unique ecosystems, and biogeography explores and explains their relationship to physical geographic features. There are various branches of biogeography: zoogeography (geographical distribution of animals), phytogeography (geographical distribution of plants), island biogeography (study of factors influencing individual ecosystems), etc.
• Paleogeography: branch of physical geography that studies geographic features at different points in time geological history Earth. Science helps geographers gain information about continental positions and plate tectonics, determined through the study of paleomagnetism and fossil records.
• Climatology: scientific study of climate, as well as the most important branch of geographical research in modern world. Considers all aspects related to micro or local climate, as well as macro or global climate. Climatology also includes the study of the influence of human society on climate, and vice versa.
• Meteorology: is studying weather conditions, atmospheric processes and phenomena affecting local and global weather.
• Environmental Geography: explores the interactions between people (individuals or society) and their natural environment from a spatial perspective.
• Coastal geography: a specialized field of physical geography that also includes the study of socio-economic geography. It is devoted to the study of the dynamic interaction between the coastal zone and the sea. Physical processes that form coasts and the influence of the sea on landscape changes. The study also seeks to understand the impacts of coastal communities on coastal topography and ecosystems.
• Quaternary geology: a highly specialized section of physical geography that studies the Quaternary period of the Earth ( geographical history Earth, covering the last 2.6 million years). This allows geographers to learn about environmental changes that occurred in the planet's recent past. Knowledge is used as a tool to predict future changes in the world's environment.
• Geomatics: the technical branch of physical geography that involves the collection, analysis, interpretation and storage of data about the earth's surface.
• Landscape ecology: a science that studies the influence of various landscapes of the Earth on the ecological processes and ecosystems of the planet.

Human Geography

Human geography, or socio-economic geography, is a branch of geography that studies the impact of the environment on human society and the earth's surface, as well as the impact of anthropogenic activities on the planet. Socio-economic geography is focused on the study of the most developed creatures of the world from an evolutionary point of view - people and their environment.

This branch of geography is divided into various disciplines depending on the focus of the research:

• Geography population: studies how nature determines the distribution, growth, composition, lifestyle, and migration of human populations.
• Historical geography: explains the change and development of geographical phenomena over time. Although this section is considered as a branch of human geography, it also focuses on certain aspects of physical geography. Historical geography attempts to understand why, how, and when places and regions of the Earth change and the impact they have on human society.
• Cultural Geography: explores how and why cultural preferences and norms change across spaces and places. Thus, it studies the spatial variations of human cultures, including religion, language, livelihood choices, politics, etc.
• Economic geography: the most important section of socio-economic geography, covering the study of the location, distribution and organization of human economic activity in geographical space.
• Political geography: examines the political boundaries of countries around the world and the divisions between countries. She also studies how spatial structures influence political functions and vice versa. Military geography, electoral geography, geopolitics are some of the subdisciplines of political geography.
• Geography of health: explores the impact geographical location on people's health and well-being.
• Social geography: studies the quality and standard of living of the world's human population and attempts to understand how and why such standards vary across places and spaces.
• Geography settlements: deals with the study of urban and rural settlements, economic structure, infrastructure, etc., as well as the dynamics of human settlement in relation to space and time.
• Geography of animals: studies fauna Earth and the interdependence between people and animals.

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It is human nature to travel. For thousands of years, people have been changing their habitats in search of food, in search of better life, fleeing wars and oppression, or bringing these wars and oppression to others. And just like that, out of curiosity, they move along the surface of the earth. And almost everyone can repeat on their own behalf the words of N. Przhevalsky (1839 - 1888): “And life is beautiful because you can travel.”

In Greek, "ge" means "earth" and "grapho" means "I write." Therefore, "geography" means "description of the earth." Everything is correct. Geography began when one person decided to explain to another how to get from point A to point B. That is, the first geographers were warriors, merchants and sailors. To carry out their tasks, all of them needed to know where they could and should go, and where they couldn’t. A smart person won’t climb a mountain... And if there is no way to get around the mountain, he will try to find a passage or pass in the mountain range.

No less important was information about sources of food, and most importantly, water along the route. And about whether there will be predators or creeping and biting reptiles along the road. Since a person is sometimes worse than a beast or a poisonous scorpionfish, it would also be useful for the traveler to know where which tribes live and what they do.

Those who set out on sea or river waters needed information about the islands, winds and currents. And about the guiding stars on the celestial sphere. And again about fish and reptiles living in the depths of the waters. And, of course, about overseas peoples and tribes: expect trouble or profitable trade from meeting them.

As we see, already in ancient times all the questions that the science of geography answers to this day were formed. The foundations of this science were laid by the Greek scientist Claudius Ptolemy (87 - 165).

If you avoid too scientific definitions, geography studies the entire surface of planet Earth and all the changes occurring on it. And since these changes are caused by changes in the air (atmosphere), in the waters (hydrosphere), in the solid shell of the Earth (lithosphere), as well as the existence of animals and plants (biosphere) and people (noosphere), then all of these spheres are components one big geosphere.

The global geosphere is divided into more local geosystems: natural areas, landscapes, biogeocenoses.

Our planet is a complex and diverse object. Therefore, geography has long been divided into many geographical sciences. All geographical sciences are divided (perhaps quite arbitrarily) into physical-geographical sciences, which study natural processes occurring in the geosphere, and into socio-economic geographical sciences.

Among the physical-geographical sciences, we can distinguish atmospheric physics, meteorology, climatology, land hydrology and oceanology, glaciology (the study of glaciers) and geomorphology (the study of geographical relief), soil science and biogeography (the science of how land is distributed across the globe). various types animals and plants). Of particular interest among the general public is paleogeography, which studies changes in the earth's topography over very long periods of time. Paleogeography meets paleontology, and ancient dinosaurs and monsters are of interest to everyone. All physical and geographical sciences should be considered exact sciences, because they study phenomena that can be measured.

Socio-economic geographical sciences study the interaction of human society with the planet on which we live. Among these sciences, we should primarily highlight political geography (where which states are located and where which peoples live), economic geography (how industry and agriculture are distributed across the surface of our planet) and social geography (living conditions of the population in different geographical regions). Socio-economic geographical sciences interact with history, political science, economics and statistics. But, perhaps, they cannot be called exact sciences.

But I haven’t talked about one scientific section of geography yet. I, so to speak, left cartography for dessert. Because a geographical map is the main geographical document. Everything that geographical sciences study is necessarily tied to a world map or a regional map. After all, the main question that geography has been answering since its birth is the question “where”? The main result of Ptolemy’s work was a map of the world known at that time, the ecumene (What this is, you can read in the article dated June 10, 2013).

Over the course of many years of the formation of geography as a science, maps were the main source of knowledge, and often the main treasure of merchants, sailors and warriors, from whom - as has already been said - geographical science originated. Do you know what dowry Christopher Columbus received when he married the daughter of a Portuguese navigator from the island of Madeira? Geographic maps father-in-law! It is quite possible that it was they who inspired him with the idea of ​​​​reaching Asia, circumnavigating the globe, sailing to the west. As a result, he made probably the greatest geographical discovery.

The article began with the words of N. Przhevalsky that traveling is wonderful. I would like to end it with the words of St. Augustine (354 - 430) that this is useful: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page of it.”

As I remember now: before the fifth grade they gave out a hefty stack of textbooks in school library. Among all the others, my attention was drawn to a bright book with some mountains and a planet on the cover. And already at home I looked into the textbook to figure it out. what do they study at this strange new object - geography.

What does geography study?

What does this vast science not study!

Basically, it is divided into two parts. First - study of territories:

• Continents (how many there are, what states are located on them, other features).
• Countries (capitals, economic development, population).
• Oceans (currents, wildlife, climate change).

The second part refers to studying the planet itself– biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, noosphere and hydrosphere.

What sciences does geography overlap with?

Of course all scientific knowledge consists of unified system . And some sciences seem to intersect with each other, forming a complete picture of the world for us.

About the biosphere, that is, about all life on the planet, you can find out more from biology.

Ecology will tell you too about living organisms a lot of new things. It also affects noosphere, that is, a person’s influence on the world around him.

About the atmosphere and hydrosphere can tell you a little physics- about the various laws that make our world what it is. In particular, this atmospheric pressure, cyclones, Archimedes' law and much more.

About the economies of countries says, oddly enough, the section of economics called macroeconomics.

Mathematics will teach transfer money from one currency to another.

Foreign languages - not only understand where they say on another language, but also what exactly.

Story also affects how did humanity developO and why the geopolitical picture of the world looks the way we see it now.

So ideally need to know not only geography, but also all of the above sciences.

What important questions does geography answer?

Exactly in geography lessons I was able to find out where earthquakes come from and how volcanoes are formed. What is a tsunami and why can't they be in middle lane Russia. What are these scary phrases about cyclones and anticyclones they say in the weather forecast and what kind of winds there are.

People have been collecting all this knowledge bit by bit for centuries, and we can just open a textbook in order to get answers to all the questions.

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We can say that she studies nature as a whole. These are many sciences, the purpose of which is to answer different questions: how our planet works, how landscapes develop, why the weather changes, why it is hot in Africa, and why South Pole it’s cold, how people influence nature, etc. Of course, the main subject of its study is the geosphere - the shell of the earth in which “life” is possible in one form or another.

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Recently, while switching TV channels, I came across a program where a resourceful journalist asked tricky questions famous people, trying to convict them of shameful ignorance of important things. One of the questions was: what is the name of the capital of Australia? None of the characters gave the correct answer, nor did I. It's a shame not to know geography!

The emergence of geography

Geography is so ancient science that its name has no creator. The origin of the term took place in the 1st century AD, and we owe the further development of science to such scientists as Claudius Ptolemy and Gerardus Mercator. From ancient Greek the word is translated as “geo” - earth and “grapho” - writing. That is, “geography” is literally a description of the Earth. Indeed, this science describes the placement of objects on our planet.

The following are considered great travelers and geographical discoverers:

• James Cook (first to land on the shores of Australia);
• Ferdinand Magellan (confirmed the sphericity of the Earth);
• Mikhail Lazarev (discovered Antarctica);
• Afanasy Nikitin (made a great journey to India).

Geographical envelope of the Earth

The main subjects of studying geography are the shells of our planet:

• biosphere: living organisms;
• atmosphere: airspace;
• lithosphere: the earth's crust;
• hydrosphere: water resources.

Types of geography

The life of the Earth is so diverse that geography has several branches:

• physical geography: studies the natural environment and living beings of the planet;
• socio-economic geography: studies issues of territorial residence of human society;
• military geography: studies strategies for conducting military operations in geographic space.

Why do you need to know geography?

The study of geography in school cannot be neglected. Every inhabitant of the Earth must understand where he is and where his fellow earthlings live. You need to navigate this world, travel, get to know your huge cosmic home. In addition, gaps in geographical knowledge often lead to unpleasant ridicule from the ignorant. And lastly: geography is just very interesting!

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Everyone in childhood wanted to become a traveler, discover new lands, cross seas and oceans, or at least explore the territory beyond that neighbor's fence. I don’t know about you, but I found it terribly interesting.

When children grow up and their dream remains the same, they become geographers. They are planning research expeditions, working hard to create detailed maps and travel around the world.

What do geographers do?

Geography, i.e. “description of the earth” translated into ancient Greek, studies the components of the geographic environment around us, their location and interrelationship with each other. These components include:

• territory;
• climatic conditions;
• water resources;
• animal and plant world.

These components are integral part shells that form our planet. In a word, they are called geospheres. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Biosphere

The space above the earth where living organisms live. Includes flora and fauna.

Lithosphere

The crust of planet Earth. The solid shell of the Earth, which includes the mantle covering the planet's core. The lithosphere consists of plates. The movement of lithospheric plates towards each other can create mountain ranges. At the same time, their divergence in different sides may lead to a quarry.

Hydrosphere

The water shell of planet Earth. Consists of three components: waters located underground of the continent, surface water and the World Ocean. Geography in the hydrosphere studies mainly the water cycle in nature. It involves the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the earth, its transfer by air masses and condensation back to the earth.

Atmosphere

Protective layer, preventing harmful effects sun rays and meteorites hitting planet Earth. It mainly consists of various gases.

As we see, under a geographer’s microscope our entire planet: from the inner layers of the Earth to the near-Earth outer space. It is entrusted with the important function of monitoring all components of the geographic environment in order to assess their interaction with each other and make forecasts of their changes over time.

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When I was a schoolgirl, I always ran to geography lessons, and even in the era of teenage rebellion, I missed it very rarely and only for good reasons. She even collaborated with the Russian Geographical Society, and once asked for a globe for her birthday.

What does geography study today?

Speaking in the boring language of science, geography studies the physical shell of the Earth, as well as its interior. Yes, geography really studies the planet as a whole, but in fact the details of this science are very diverse. I remember how we made reports and presentations, talking about:

• peoples of the world;
• countries and cities;
• seas, oceans, plains and forests;
• and even about space.

We can say: it was necessary, because there were no separate subjects on these aspects, where else could they be shoved? This is not geography! Well, no, you know, this is precisely the beauty of geography: in its diversity, in the fact that it includes the whole world, huge, although well studied, but still in many ways so unknown.

Russian Geographical Society

I have already said that I had the opportunity to work with the Russian Geographical Society, sit at their anniversary and present my thoughts in the form of a project. In general, there were many projects: from the geography of event tourism to the cultivation of crystals (which once again emphasizes the diversity of geography!). And the society itself is amazing. It is precisely this that is the conductor of geography in Russia. Throughout the long years of its existence, it has been collecting accurate information about the world around us and also actively disseminating what it has collected. Such names as Miklouho-Maclay, Przhevalsky, Wrangel (even Aivazovsky) and many, many others are associated with him. If you're in St. Petersburg, take a look at the Society. Personally, I will melt into a happy puddle as soon as I see the building on Grivtsova 10, letter “A”.

Is the decline of geography as a science near?

Skeptics may note that the world is already quite well studied. Something new is rarely discovered, and then very insignificantly; any point in the world can be seen from space. Does this mean that geography as a science will be dead? Of course not! I believe that in our world there is always a place for discoveries, even if they do not lie on the surface and are not something grandiose. Therefore, geography will live, and I and others like me will love it.

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Did you like geography at school? Or did you sit through class, thinking about something else and counting the minutes until the bell rang for recess? Perhaps you are facing difficulties in teaching discipline to your children? To fall in love with geography, first you need to understand what is it for? and to what benefits does it have? for all humanity and for each person individually. This is exactly what I will talk about now.

Why is geography needed?

Geography- Very interesting and educational science, which consists of many aspects. Thanks to her, it is formed idea of ​​the planet where we live. Oh her internal structure, formation and movement. About what phenomena occur in the world around us, why and how this happens, how they interact with each other.

What does geography study:

• Structure of the Earth, her shell, place in solar system .
• degree network, which allows you to find any country or city on the world map.
• Parts of the world,countries, cities, mountain ranges, seas and oceans.
• Animals and plants who live on our planet.
• Population, peculiarities economic development .
• Climate, natural conditions , the relationship of natural phenomena.

Who needs geography

Geography- this is not only a general school subject that introduces us to general ideas about the Earth and its inhabitants. She also necessary in many professions.

All professions related to agriculture : soil scientist, soil scientist, florist, gardener, landscape designer. Highly specialized professions: geologist, hydrologist, surveyor, agronomist, forester, pilot. Among modern professions geography will be useful: journalists, specialists in the field international relations, archaeologists, logistics specialists, tour operators, translators, tour guides. And this is not the entire list of areas of activity in which knowledge of a science such as geography plays an important role. Not a very extensive area of ​​study, using many methods for research. I’ll tell you about this, noting the key historical points development of this science.

What is geography and what does it study?

This is a complex science whose task is to study our planet, namely: natural phenomena, population and its activities. It is generally accepted to divide this science into two directions - economic, studying people's lives, and physical, the scope of which includes the entire planet as a whole.

Research methods

There are two groups. To the first general scientific group include:

• historical- study of an object in the process of its development;
• systemic- study of factors influencing natural systems;
• computer modeling;

• mathematical- all data about the object of study is subjected to mathematical analysis.

The second group includes methods, in fact, geographical:

• paleogeographic- analysis, study of the remains of ancient life forms;
• observation behind environmental processes;
• geocosmic- includes large-scale research natural complexes planets;
• geochemical and geophysical;
• cartographic.

History of geographical discoveries

The birthplace of geography as a science - Ancient. Scientists of that time were able to summarize and analyze the material inherited from more ancient civilizations, and at the same time significantly "refilled the piggy bank" having accomplished many own discoveries. Much later, in the Middle Ages, the Vikings discovered Greenland and even east coast of the American continent. For several centuries, many Europeans traveled to distant lands Asia and Middle East, documenting everything he saw in detail.

Then it came eraGreat geographical discoveries- time period between the 15th and 17th centuries. In the first half there was America is open, a sea route to India was laid, and first circumnavigation of the world. The second half includes the full North Asian studies, research North American continent and research of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

To modern geographical discoveries include reaching the poles, ocean exploration, conquering the highest point on our planet and much more. However, the process of studying our planet is still far from complete: the study of ice continues Antarctica, study earth's crust, animals and plants, depths World Ocean.

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Textbook for 5th grade

In preparing the textbook, the suggestions and recommendations of geographer teachers from experimental schools were used:

Edited by Candidate of Geographical Sciences I.P.Galaya

Minsk, 2000

TO STUDENTS

Rules for working with the textbook

In geography lessons, while preparing homework, you, except teaching aid, you must have a geography atlas and a set of outline maps for 5th grade, a compass, a squared notebook, colored pencils, a compass, and an eraser.

Work at home on the paragraphs of the study guide in the following sequence:

Read the text.

Retell each part of the paragraph, and then the entire paragraph.

While reading the text, find on the map all the geographical objects mentioned in it.

Answer the questions and complete the tasks placed after each paragraph.

Write down all the words highlighted in the text of the paragraph (for example, geography) in a dictionary and remember how they are written.

If any term found in the text is not clear to you, refer to the brief dictionary of geographical concepts and terms (at the end of the textbook).

Introduction &1. What does geography study?

Let's remember: What do you know about our planet from the courses “Universe” or “Natural History”? Why is it warm in some areas of the globe and cold in others? Why does it rain?

Key words:geography, natural conditions, population, economy, nature conservation.1. Geography as a science.G E O GRAPHY- a science that studies the natural conditions of the earth's surface, the earth's population and its economic activity. This science is one of the most ancient.

Geography translated from Greek language means land description (in Greek “ge” - Earth, “grapho” - I write, describe).

*The name “geography” was first used by Eratosthenes even before the beginning of our era in the book “Geography”. It examined the shape and size of the Earth, oceans, land, climate, described individual countries, and the history of geography .

For a long time (until the end of the 18th century), the main task of geography was the discovery and description of new lands, countries, peoples, and the elimination of blank spots on the geographical map. The names of discoverers and explorers - brave and courageous people - are captured in geographical names on the map.

The first geographers were travelers and seafarers. They discovered new lands, countries, peoples, continents, islands, oceans, seas, bays, mountains, plains, rivers and lakes, drew up maps depicting travel routes and new lands, described natural conditions, life and occupations of the population. The routes of their travels and expeditions passed through sultry deserts and cold glaciers, in the sky-high mountains, along fast rivers and stormy ocean waters.

** People learned about ancient travels not only from descriptions, but also from scraps of papyrus or a fragment of a clay tablet with signs written on them.

Geographers have revealed and continue to reveal many secrets of nature. Thanks to their research and observations, we can already answer many questions. For example: why is it raining or windy? In what areas of the Earth should we look for coal, oil or other minerals? But nature still conceals many mysteries, which geographers and other scientists are working to uncover.

Geography is divided into two large parts: physical and economic. Physical geography studies the nature of the surface of the globe; economic geography - population, its economic activities, patterns of distribution of the population and economy.

2. The meaning of geography. Geography was descriptive in the past. Now the main task of geography is to study the diversity of nature, population, its economic activities and explain their development and distribution.

Modern geography clarifies the causes of processes and phenomena occurring on the surface of the globe, and the patterns of their change. One of the most important tasks of geography is forecasting the development of phenomena. Since the nature of the Earth began to change extremely quickly, it is necessary to anticipate those changes in the environment that may occur as a result of human economic activity.

Any development of the territory and construction does not begin without a preliminary study of the area. So, when building a hydroelectric power station on a river, it is necessary to determine where to build a dam, study what rocks the river banks are made of, and what area will be flooded with water after the construction of the dam.

For example, a project was proposed for the construction of a very large hydroelectric power station on the Ob River, which flows through the West Siberian Plain. But when this project was thoroughly examined by geographers, it turned out that as a result of the construction of a hydroelectric dam, a huge reservoir would be formed that would flood a significant part of the plain. Swamps will form around the reservoir, which will lead to a change in the local climate, and other unfavorable changes in nature will occur. This project was not accepted.

3. Geography and nature conservation. Geography provides answers to the questions of how best to use the wealth of nature, what to do so that nature does not become impoverished, so that forests do not disappear, fertile soils do not deplete, rivers do not dry up, how to restore and transform nature in the interests of man and nature itself.

State documents of our country constantly emphasize the need for rational use and protection of soils, subsoil, air and water basins. It is necessary to strengthen comprehensive studies of nature for the purpose of reasonable management.

The features of nature, population and economy of many parts of the earth's surface have not yet been sufficiently studied. People cannot always predict how nature will change as a result of their impact on it. Therefore, geographers continue to explore the Earth's surface. They participate in various expeditions on land and in the oceans, and conduct long-term observations at scientific stations.

1.What is called geography? 2. What two parts is geography divided into? 3. What does physical geography study? Economic geography? 4. What is the significance of geographical science?