The Geography Portal

Geography is the 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. 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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Hurricane Dog was the most intense hurricane of the 1950 Atlantic hurricane season. The fourth named storm of the season, Dog developed on August 30 to the east of Antigua; after passing through the northern Lesser Antilles, it turned to the north and intensified into a Category 5 hurricane. Dog reached its peak intensity with winds of 185 mph (300 km/h) over the open Atlantic and after weakening, it passed within 200 miles (320 km) of Cape Cod. The storm became extratropical on September 12.

Hurricane Dog caused extensive damage to the Leeward Islands, and was considered the most severe hurricane on record in Antigua. Many buildings were destroyed or severely damaged on the island, with thousands left homeless just weeks after Hurricane Baker caused serious damage there. In the United States, the hurricane caused moderate coastal damage, including damage to several boats, and resulted in 11 offshore drownings. Strong winds caused widespread power outages across southeastern New England. Damage across its path totaled about $3 million (1950 USD, $26.7 million 2009 USD).

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Topographic map of Colombia. Photo credit: Sadalmelik

Did you know...

• ...that Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve is an important and isolated cloud forest, however its small size and isolation is jeopardizing its long term survival?
• ...that the Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition (1949–1952) found evidence that suggests a portion of Antarctica was once joined to southern Africa?
• ...that seismologists use isoseismal maps (example pictured) to help work out the epicenter, focal depth, magnitude and mechanism of an earthquake?
• ...that Tropical Storm Christine was the easternmost forming Atlantic tropical cyclone on record?
• ...that over 19 days, the magnitude-6 1703 Apennine earthquakes progressed southwards 36 km and killed an estimated 10,000 people?

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Oceania: Australasia | Melanesia | Micronesia | Polynesia | Pacific Rim

Polar areas: Arctic | Antarctic

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New articles

Please feel free to list your new Geography-related articles here (newer articles at the top, please). Any new articles that have an interesting or unusual fact in them should be suggested for the Did you know? box on the Main Wikipedia page. DYN has a 72 hr. time limit from the creation of the article.

• Watersheds and basins
  • Great Lakes Basin
  • Lake Erie Basin
  • Lake Erie Watershed (Pennsylvania)
• Tripolis (Pontus)
• Pidurutalagala
• United States Numbered Bicycle Routes

Associated Wikimedia

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Geography on Commons Images

Geography on Wikisource Texts

Geography on Wikibooks Textbooks