THE BASICS OF GEOGRAPHY

: Region

The Basics of Geography : Region

REGIONS

Regions are artificial creations that geographers use to divide the world

into sections which can then be compared with other units or studied

in more detail on their own

There are three types of regions: formal, functional, and vernacular

The Basics of Geography : Region

FORMAL REGIONS

Formal regions are those regions that are specifically spelled out by

government bodies

Example: The Rocky Mountains, The Malay Archipelago, a country's borders

The Basics of Geography : Region

FUNCTIONAL REGIONS

Functional regions are those regions that exist because they serve a

particular function

Example: school boundaries, Congressional districts, etc.

The Basics of Geography : Region

VERNACULAR REGIONS

Vernacular regions are those regions that are very loosely defined by

people’s understanding

Example: The South, The Middle East, South Pacific