Explain the purpose, characteristics, and limitations of regions.

Regions

Geographers study geography. You've probably figured that out by now. But how is this done? The study of the physical space in the world, including its landforms as well as how people interact in this space, is a big project. How do you begin to understand this much space? One way is to start looking for common traits that define certain spaces, allowing you to examine the world in smaller units.

What we're looking at is a region, a unit of geography characterized by some form of shared or uniform traits. Regions can be large or small, depending on the criteria you're using to define them. These units are very helpful ways for us to begin compartmentalizing all that space in the world.

Characteristics of Regions

So, what exactly defines a region? That's an important question, and there are actually a number of ways to answer it. A region is any physical area united by shared characteristics, but there are four main ways we can define this.

Physical Regions

Perhaps most obvious are physical regions, those defined by shared physical characteristics. Physical regions are units of physical space that are very similar in their natural characteristics. For example, the Great Plains are a physical region of North America. Within the larger continent, this section of land is defined by a distinct type of land that's different from the mountains and forested hills around it. Characteristics that define physical regions can include landforms, types of vegetation, climate, or other natural features.