and the little moisture that is left is now spread out over a wider area.

The downwind
(or leeward) side is in the rainshadow of the mountain (Figure 1.4).

Climate and Biogeography

Climate has a direct impact on the biogeographic distribution of the natural vegeta-
tion in a region. In fact, the two are often inseparable. The major factors of climate
that affect vegetation patterns are humidity (precipitation) and temperature. High
humidity and high temperature are associated with lush, green vegetation, such as
that found in tropical rain forests. High temperature and low humidity are associ-
ated with arid, desert vegetation. Humidity becomes less important as temperatures
decrease. The lowest temperature regions are associated with spruce coniferous trees
(found in most of Siberia and Canada) and tundra (a treeless type of grass and moss
found in the northern extremes of the continents). Between these three extremes (1:
high temperature and humidity, 2: high temperature and low humidity, and 3: low
temperature) is a mixture of evergreen trees, deciduous trees (those that lose their
leaves in winter) and grasslands.

1.3 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Human geography is not as easily broken down into subdisciplinary areas as is

physical geography. In very general terms, however, it is possible to identify an eco-
nomic geography branch (including population, urban, transportation and other
related geographies) and a cultural geography branch (including historical geography,
environmental perception and human ecology). In all areas of geography, there is con-
siderable crossover with other disciplines (such as economics, history and biology).
However, geographers tend to maintain a unique perspective in their emphasis on
space, place and regional phenomena.

Place and Space

Geography deals with two basic areas of inquiry about the world around us: place
and space. Geography seeks to portray accurately the character of places. Place loca-
tion (where is it?) is fundamental to understanding a place’s characteristics. Place
description (what is it like?) is part of the art of geography. These are the types of
questions that most people would readily identify with geography. Geographers
attempt to develop an awareness and understanding of the qualities of a place that
make it special. We say that places that exhibit these special qualities have a strong
sense of place; they are places that have a personality and significance and are often
remembered long after we have left them.
Places are points of presence. A place exists and has a location. Geographic places
exist in geographic space – typically some location on the surface of the earth. Other,
non-geographic places also exist. These are mostly fictional places, but can also be virtual

INTRODUCTION 11