GK| GENERAL KNOWLEDGE| MAIN GEOGRAPHICAL FACTS AND DEFINITIONS| ENGLISH MEDIUM
(GK)
GENERAL
KNOWLEDGE
[CHAPTER – 2]
Main
Geographical Facts and Definitions
The word "geography" is derived from "geo (earth) + graphy (description)". Thus, geography means the description of the earth.
Geography is such
an independent branch of scientific study that provides people with knowledge
about the origin, shape and movement of the earth, its atmosphere, lithosphere,
biosphere and hydrosphere geology, population, vegetation and all living and
non-living things on the earth; Its climatic condition, temperature,
oceanography and aquatic animals, sky and all the heavenly bodies and stars and
weather of the solar system. There are two main branches of Geography – 1.
Physical Geography and 2. Socio Economic Geography.
1. Physical
Geography: Physical geography includes the endless universe, origin of the
solar system, sun, earth including its other nine planets, satellites, their
motion and relation, formation of rocks, mountains, plateaus, plains, land.
water and air, land or continents and water or oceans, wind, ice, atmosphere
and atmospheric pressure, climate and weather, causes of day and night, local
and standard time, seasonal temperature changes, ocean floor and erosion formation
by it, Salinity, Ocean Currents, Ebb and Tide, Glaciers, Cause and Direction of
Winds, Classification of Soil, Rainfall, Draft and Vegetation etc. Thus, in
brief physical geography can be divided into the following categories-
(i) Shape of
Earth's surface – longitude, latitude, altitude, hot, temperate and cold
poles, division of land and water, habitat of living things – humans, animals,
insects and aquatic animals.
(ii)
Climatology - Under Climatology the components of the sphere, its specific
temperature and radiation are studied.
(iii)
Environment - Geography is the specialty of the study of the environment.
(iv) Bio -
geography is the study of living organisms on the earth's surface and in water.
(v)
Seismology - Seismology is the study of earthquakes, their causes, effects
and motion of the region below and above the earth.
(vi)
Volcanology - Geographically under this branch the causes, effect,
area and nature of volcanoes are studied.
(vii) Marine
Science - Special study of oceans and seas, its salinity, depth and current
etc. is done under this branch of geography.
(viii)
Lacology – Study of lake, its origin, size and salinity.
(ix) Geology -
Under this branch of geography, the process of formation of soil, its
characteristics and classification etc. are studied.
(x) Cavern
ology - Study of caves in mountains on the surface of the earth.
(xi) Rock
Science - Scientific study of rocks is done under this branch of geography.
(2)
Socio-economic geography - the impact and influence of geographical
conditions have a lot on humans. The interrelationship of human activities with
certain geographical conditions is called socio-economic geography; It is
directly related to the inhabitants, physical features, way of living, pattern
of society, literacy, civilization, culture and economic conditions. It can be
further divided into the following categories.
(i) Economic
Geography – Study of natural resources – agriculture, animal husbandry,
trade and commerce, industrialization, production, transport, distribution and
marketing. Thus, all kinds of economic activities of man are the subject of
economic geography.
(ii) Genetic
or racial geography - Under this branch of racial geography, the process of
origin of Homo sapiens or human being, its distinctive physical
characteristics, place of origin, migration and cultural development is studied.
(iii)
Socio-Geography - Under this subject, the nature of society, distribution
of population, mutual human relations and exchange of ideas are studied.
(iv)
Residential Geography - Under this subject, villages in rural areas and
cities in urban areas, density of population, census etc. are studied.
(v) Political
Geography - The study of formation of a state, nation or country, national
or international boundaries, types of administration and their problems is
called political geography.