Portal:Geography

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The Geography Portal

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Geography is the main study of the location, extent, distribution, frequency and interaction of all significant elements of the human and physical environment on or near the Earth's surface, particularly its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and the effects of human activity. The word geography derives from the Greek γη (ge) or γαια (gaia) ("Earth") and γραφειν (graphein) ("to inscribe"). Physical geography focuses on the physical, meteorological and ecological patterns and processes on Earth. Human geography focuses on economic, political and cultural processes and features in their spatial dimensions. Biogeography focuses on the spatial distributions of organisms, species and ecosystems, and how these are affected by climate change. In addition to studying human and natural features of Earth, Geographers also study Earth's place in the Solar System and the Universe and how this affects the Earth features (e.g. climate, sea currents and tides), as well as physical processes on other planets.

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Marco Polo (c. 1254 – January 8, 1324) was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently met Kublai Khan. Il Milione was dictated by Marco Polo to Rustichello da Pisa while both were prisoners of the Genova Republic. It documents his father's journey to meet the Kublai Khan, who asked them to become ambassadors, and communicate with the pope. This led to Marco's quest, through Acre, and to the Mongol court in China. Marco apparently wrote of his extensive travels throughout Asia on behalf of the Khan, and their eventual return after 15000 miles (24000 km) and 24 years of adventures. Their pioneering journey inspired Christopher Columbus and had an influence on European cartography, leading to the introduction of the Fra Mauro map.

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Russia's Sarychev Volcano, on Matua Island in the Kuril Islands, erupting on 12 June 2009, as seen from the International Space Station

Photo credit: NASA

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Did you know...

... that the Beaver River (pictured) flows through the heart of the Yukon Flats, one of the most productive waterfowl breeding areas in North America, and the most productive in Alaska?
... that Angammedilla National Park is designated primarily to protect the drainage basin of Parakrama Samudra?
... that Tanco Mine in Manitoba, Canada, is the world's largest producer of caesium?
... that the 1896 Meiji-Sanriku earthquake caused the most devastating tsunami in Japanese history, destroying about 9,000 homes and killing more than 22,000 people?
... that the Ahklun Mountains, located in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, support the only existing glaciers in western Alaska?

...Archive/Nominations

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Antarctica	Afro-Eurasia	Americas
Australia	Africa	Eurasia
North America	Oceania	Europe
Asia	South America	Supercontinents: Gondwana • Laurasia • Pangaea • Rodinia