Why Study Physical Geography?
A visit to Google Earth readily shows the diversity of earth’s landscapes. The southeastern United States appears greener than the southwestern United States. Northern Africa is covered with vast deserts while central Africa is not. Nepal has spectacular mountains but central Wisconsin does not. When we travel, the physical environmental characteristics of the places we visit dictate what type of clothes to pack; will it be hot? cold? rainy? Should we pack sturdy shoes or flip-flops? Physical geography is the study of the geographic patterns to the earth’s physical environment. The environment we live in affects our daily lives, from what we wear, to how we get around, to the type of jobs we may have, and how our homes may be built. It affects the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. It affects what we can grow in our gardens, and thus the food we eat. Governmental bodies at all levels make policies and decisions that are affected by, and affect, our physical environme
