Medicine      02/15/2020

Post geographical objects. geographic features. Geographical objects on the map

What is a geographic feature: definition and examples

Geography is the science that studies the earth's surface and everything on it. And a lot of things are located there: rivers and lakes, mountains and seas, agricultural lands and rocky canyons, cities and tiny villages ... It is these objects that give a unique, inimitable look to our planet.

So what is a geographic feature? This is a real-life and relatively stable element of the earth's surface. All geographic objects are distinguished by integrity, specific location and have their own boundaries. At the same time, their genesis (origin) can be very diverse.

Varieties of geographical objects

Based on the origin, all geographical objects can be divided into two large groups:

  1. Natural (seas, oceans, mountain ranges, lakes, caves, forests, rocks, springs, etc.).
  2. Anthropogenic or man-made (countries, cities, villages, industrial enterprises, monasteries, parks, ports, railway stations and so on.).

It is customary to describe any geographical object carefully and in detail, determining its characteristic properties, as well as measuring its parameters. For example, for mountain peaks, their height is determined, for rivers, their length, for airports, passenger traffic, etc.

What is a geographic feature? One more definition can be given - simple, but quite accurate. Geographic features are anything that can be labeled on geographical maps and site plans. How can I do that?

Geographical objects on the map

Various objects on maps and plans are displayed using special conventional signs. This is a system of specially designed graphic symbols and figures, which allows you to give a qualitative and quantitative description of certain objects or phenomena.

All cartographic symbols are divided into four types:

  • large-scale or areal (contours of lakes, forests, fields, etc.);
  • non-scale or point (power plants, mineral springs, Orthodox churches, etc.);
  • linear (rivers, canals, highways, territory boundaries, etc.);
  • explanatory (various verbal and numerical inscriptions).

The relief on geographical maps is depicted using horizontal lines - thin brown lines connecting points of the earth's surface with the same height. Arrows and special traffic signs show various natural or socio-economic phenomena, for example, the directions of maritime transport.

Names of geographical objects

Each such object has its own "name". And, as a rule, it is not accidental. The name of a geographical feature is usually associated with its features, location, or history.

The study of the origin, meaning and development (change) of place names is a separate science - toponymy. This scientific discipline located at the intersection of geography, history and linguistics. The correct name of a geographical feature is extremely important for cartographers.

There are a huge number of types of geographical names: hydronyms (names of rivers and lakes), oikonyms (names of settlements), oronyms (names of landforms), godonyms (street names), etc.

Any science can be interesting if it is taught with better side. For example, how do you explain to students what geographic features are? Most likely, students will not be interested in hearing the phrase itself. Geographical features are everything that exists in the surrounding world: rivers and seas, cities and villages, mountains and valleys, deserts and jungles.

Geographic feature. What is this?

In geography, this is one of the most interesting and simple topics. Why? You do not need to memorize any terminology, it is enough to understand what can be meant by this phrase. And there are many examples.

Any student can name their favorite places - geographical objects. He can give even the most common examples. Did you remember fishing on the Oka River or a walk in the reserve this summer? This means that the objects will be the Oka River and the reserve.

Mother Russia, you are the most beautiful!

At all times, our country was considered one of the most beautiful. Today, many geographical objects of Russia are a reason for admiration for both their compatriots and tourists. To make it easier to understand, you can give examples in order. It is more logical to start with the main cities of the country.

The capital of Russia is the city of Moscow. A huge metropolis in which there are many amazing places: the Moscow metro (considered one of the largest in the world), the Tretyakov Gallery, the Kremlin, Sparrow Hills, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. There are also quite a lot of attractions in the Moscow region. Geographical objects can be called any cities, towns, villages.

St. Petersburg is the second capital. It is famous for its location almost on the island that surrounds the Gulf of Finland. The surroundings of the city delight the eye not only with man-made objects, but also with nature and sea air.

By the way, the Gulf of Finland, Kronstadt (city district of St. Petersburg) are also geographical objects. Numerous examples can be cited: the monument to Peter the Great, the Aurora cruiser, the Seaport, and so on.

Earth objects on the territory of the Russian Federation

Natural geographic features are any rivers, lakes, forests, mountains, steppes, even caves and mines.

Reservoirs. Volga and Lena rivers, Lake Baikal, Black and Barents Seas, Northern Arctic Ocean, the holy spring of Seraphim of Sarov, reservoirs, waterfalls, springs. There are a lot of rivers and lakes in Russia, which not only provide water for the needs of people, but also delight with beautiful places. Many people come to fish, relax, swim. It is impossible to live without reservoirs.

Mountains, plains, forests. Siberia is what is untouched. Thanks to the fierce climate, nature has remained almost unchanged. The objects in the eastern part of Russia are considered to be the tundra and taiga. It is also worth recalling the stunning mountains in the Altai Territory.

Above were the famous and largest geographical objects of Russia. You can list them ad infinitum.

Exotic countries

Every country has its attractions. Do not repeat about that, It will already be superfluous. Below are just the most interesting places on the planet.

Egypt. Who does not know about the pyramids in Luxor (near the capital of Egypt, Cairo)? And all the students from the 7th grade know about the Sahara Desert. The great river Nile, which is the only source drinking water for an arid country.

Poland, Austria, Hungary, Scotland and other European countries. Not only geographical, but also cultural and historical objects can be called Gothic buildings, entire cities that retain the atmosphere of the Middle Ages to this day.

Australia. A very distant country located in the southern hemisphere. The main geographical features of Australia are the capital Sydney and two oceans: the Pacific and the Indian.

India, China, Vietnam, Thailand. These countries are famous for the fact that the inhabitants of the states are Buddhists. A lot of objects are connected with faith: Mecca, Nepal. Hindus build monasteries in the mountains. These are also geographical objects, as often tourists and lovers of oriental knowledge consider such places to be sights, objects of visit.

Is it worth listing other countries to give a lot of examples? You can find any information about all objects.

Unusual places and information about them

On Earth, there are several amazing places that nature itself has created. Man can only wonder. Below will be given information about a geographical object that remains a mystery to everyone.

Bermuda Triangle. A mysterious object located in one of the districts Atlantic Ocean. Puerto Rico and Florida are geographic features that are essentially the vertices of a triangle. Yes, the very famous Bermuda Triangle! Inexplicable phenomena occur in this zone: disappear vehicles and people. It doesn't matter if an object is moving in air or water, it will disappear anyway. It is still a mystery how this happens.

There are other amazing places on the planet.

Afar basin. This geographical feature of the Earth is the hottest place. Some people call hell on our planet. There is a basin between Ethiopia (Afar region) and Eritrea.

The climate here is the hottest and driest. At the bottom of the basin, lava can be seen that can melt the stones that come across it on the way. It is risky for tourists and residents to be in such a place.

Pamukkale in Turkey. In the southwest of Turkey in the province of Denizli, there is an amazing place - these are "cotton castles". The water flowing down from the tops of the mountain forms beautiful walls and bowls thanks to the limestone. Tourists, having visited this amazing place once in a lifetime, remember it for a lifetime.

There are still a lot of unusual places on Earth, not only of an anomalous nature, but also simply very beautiful.

Location of objects

There is such a thing as an object. What does it mean? Modern smartphones and navigators, as well as Google maps, are equipped with the function of entering the coordinates of the destination. Enter degrees, minutes, seconds.

In geography lessons at school in grade 7, students are introduced to the concepts of latitude and longitude. They must have a starting point. Greenwich is considered - longitude starts from it. Increasing towards the east.

Latitude starts at the equator, that is, where the middle of the Earth is located between the South and North Poles. from the equator to North Pole- degrees with a positive value, and from the equator to the South - with a negative value.

But one degree will not be enough. The planet is huge, and the desired geographical object (destination point) is most likely very small, so additional values ​​\u200b\u200bare introduced - minutes and seconds.

Objects of our planet

As mentioned above, any place on the planet can be considered geographical objects. But it is not mentioned that invisible objects can also be attributed to this topic. What exactly? For example, in the ocean there is a whole or underwater caves. Or maybe someone knows about underground ant cities? They are also geographic features. These are just a few examples. Pupils can only think on their own on this topic and name those objects that have not yet been mentioned in the article.

Official terminology

GEOGRAPHICAL OBJECTS- existing or existed relatively stable, holistic formations of the Earth characterized by a certain location: continents, oceans, seas, bays, straits, islands, mountains, rivers, lakes, glaciers, deserts and other natural objects; ... ... Glossary of concepts and terms formulated in the normative documents of Russian legislation

In honor of the great Russian commander A. V. Suvorov, various geographical objects in various countries are named. Contents 1 Physical geographical objects 2 Settlements ... Wikipedia

- ... Wikipedia

Dzerzhinsk railway station (Nizhny Novgorod region) ... Wikipedia

Various objects are named in honor of the great Russian commander A.V. Suvorov. Contents 1 Physical geographical objects 2 Settlements ... Wikipedia

Objects named after L. M. Kaganovich In honor of Lazar Moiseevich Kaganovich, as well as in honor of many other Soviet figures of the era of the cult of personality, many objects were named. Contents 1 Place names, settlements ... Wikipedia

Copyright objects- according to the law of the Russian Federation On author. law and related rights among such objects, ed. protected by law, include: 1) lit. works (including computer programs); 2) dramatic and musical dramatic works, scenario works; 3)… … Publishing Dictionary

Finding new geographic features or geographic patterns. In the early stages of the development of geography, discoveries associated with new geographical objects predominated. A particularly important role belonged to the discoveries of the unknown ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

In honor of Lazar Moiseevich Kaganovich, as well as in honor of many other Soviet figures of the era of the cult of personality, many objects were named. Contents 1 Place names, settlements ... Wikipedia

Books

  • Arctic Encyclopedia. Geographical objects, Collective of authors, "Arctic encyclopedia" - a universal collection of information on the Arctic, the North of Russia and neighbors in the Arctic region. More than 4000 articles contain materials and information about northern… Category: Encyclopedias Series: Arctic Encyclopedia Publisher: Paulsen, eBook (fb2, fb3, epub, mobi, pdf, html, pdb, lit, doc, rtf, txt)
  • Geography. Continents, oceans, peoples and countries. 7th grade. Atlas. GEF, Dushina I.V. , Atlas is intended for students of the 7th grade of general education educational institutions. The atlas reflects the topics of the course: travel, geographical research, the population of the Earth and its economic ... Category: Atlases and contour maps Series: Atlases, contour maps Publisher: Ventana-Graf,
  • History grades 10-11 A short guide for a student to prepare for the exam Effective preparation Universal materials Dates and events Terms and geographical objects,

Constitutional Law of Russia → Law Dictionary → Words starting with the letter "G" of the Law Dictionary → What does the term mean Geographic features in a legal dictionary?

geographical objects - existing or existed relatively stable, integral formations of the Earth characterized by a certain location: continents, oceans, seas, bays, straits, islands, mountains, rivers, lakes, glaciers, deserts and other natural objects; republics, territories, regions, autonomous regions, autonomous regions; cities, including federal cities, and others settlements; districts, administrative districts, aimaks, kozhuuns, national districts, uluses, volosts, village councils, naslegs, village councils, national village councils, rural districts, soums, stanitsa districts and other administrative-territorial formations (administrative-territorial units); railway stations, seaports and river ports, airports;

Source: the federal law dated December 18, 1997 No. 152-FZ (as amended on July 10, 2012) “On the names of geographical objects”

Most Viewed Words

    Aircraft emergency

    Release of products into circulation

    Document legitimacy

    Strategic enterprise (organization)

    Information machines and equipment

    Engineering networks

    Public roads

    Road facilities

    Total floor area

    Notification of the entry of a tax declaration (calculation) in electronic form

    Request interdepartmental

    Address reference

    production inventory

    industrial facility

    military personnel

    Cryptocurrency

    Mobilization task

    Postiger work

    Descent leading railway track

    Production activity

Links to the definition of "Geographical objects":

Dear site users.

On this page you will find the definition of the term "Geographical objects". This information will help you understand what Geographic Features are. If, in your opinion, the definition of the term "Geographical objects" is erroneous or does not have sufficient completeness, then we recommend that you suggest your own version of this word.

For your convenience, we are optimizing this page not only for the correct query "Geographic objects", but also for the incorrect query "utjuhfabxtcrbt j,]trns". Such errors sometimes occur when users forget to change the keyboard layout when typing a word in the search bar.

Description of the page: This page provides a definition of the concept of "Geographical objects"

Keywords of the page: Geographical objects, this, definition, concept, term, definition, what does it mean, what does it mean, word, meaning

Names of geographical objects

NAMES OF GEOGRAPHICAL OBJECTS(English names of geographical objects) - in the Russian Federation geographical names, which are assigned to geographic objects, i.e. existing or existed relatively stable, characterized by a certain location of the integral formations of the Earth, and serve to distinguish and recognize them. In accordance with the Federal Law “On the Names of Geographical Objects”**, geographical objects include continents, oceans, seas, bays, straits, islands, mountains, rivers, lakes, glaciers, deserts and other natural objects; republics, krais, oblasts, federal cities, autonomous oblasts, autonomous okrugs; cities, etc.

settlements, districts, townships, railway stations, seaports, airports and similar facilities.

Legislation of the Russian Federation on N.g.o. is based on the Constitution of the Russian Federation* and consists of the Federal Law “On the Names of Geographical Objects”, laws and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation adopted in accordance with it. The specified Federal Law applies to activities in the field of establishing, normalizing, using, registering, recording and preserving N.g.o. Russian Federation, the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation, as well as geographical objects discovered or identified by Russian research within the high seas and Antarctica, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of the Russian Federation.

To regulatory legal acts The Russian Federation, which defines uniform requirements, norms and rules in the field of N.g.o., includes instructions, guidelines, regulations and other acts that are developed by a specially authorized federal executive body in the area of ​​N.g.o. The procedure for the approval and enforcement of these acts is determined by the Government of the Russian Federation.

Existing and assigned N.g.o. subject to registration and accounting. Registration and accounting N.g.o. of the Russian Federation, the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation and geographical objects discovered or identified by Russian research within the high seas and Antarctica, are carried out by federal executive bodies within their competence.

In order to ensure uniform and sustainable use in the Russian Federation, N.g.o. and their preservation, the State Catalog of Geographical Names is created. Work on the creation and maintenance of the catalog is carried out by a specially authorized federal executive body in the region of N.g.o.

The federal executive authorities, within the limits of their competence, prepare and publish dictionaries and reference books of NGO, as well as maps and atlases of the Russian Federation. State authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation can register, record, prepare and publish catalogs, dictionaries and reference books N.g.o. in the languages ​​of the peoples of the Russian Federation, taking into account the interests of the population of the respective territories. The content of dictionaries and reference books N.g.o. before publication, it is coordinated with the specially authorized federal executive body in the region of N.g.o. The procedure for registration and accounting of N.g.o., the publication of dictionaries and reference books of N.g.o., as well as the performance of work on the creation of the State Catalog of Geographical Names and its maintenance is established by the Government of the Russian Federation (see Regulations on the Registration and Accounting of Geographical Names objects, publication of dictionaries and reference books of names of geographical objects, creation and maintenance of the State Catalog of Geographical Names**).

N.g.o. as an integral part of the historical and cultural heritage peoples of the Russian Federation are protected by the state. Arbitrary replacement of some N.g.r. others, the use of distorted N.g.o. not allowed.

The unity of nature inevitably presupposes the unity of science, which is a reflection of natural laws in human consciousness.

At the same time, the specific forms of the motion of matter, the contradictions of the various forms of motion, are so diverse, so specific in nature, that there is a need for their separate study, i.e., there is a need for the existence of a number of relatively independent branches of knowledge.

An indisputable measure of independence (in the sense indicated above) is the presence of a science of its own object of study, which is qualitatively different from the objects of study of other sciences. Science is then independent when it studies what others do not study. In other words, every science that claims to be independent must study a separate form of the motion of matter or a series of forms of motion connected with each other and passing into each other. Still differently: the delimitation of spheres in science is based on the specific contradictions contained in the objects scientific research; it is the study of certain contradictions, inherent only in a certain range of phenomena, that constitutes the task of a particular science.

Turning to the history of the geographical sciences, one can be convinced that the attention of physical geographers over the centuries has invariably been riveted mainly to one and the same thing: to the surface the globe. Consequently, the surface of the Earth has always been the object of physical geography.

It has long been noted that the Earth, as a planet, is composed of several shells embracing each other. The gaseous shell (atmosphere) belongs to the outermost one, the hydrosphere is located below it ( water shell) and the lithosphere (solid stone shell). The interior of the Earth is also stratified into shells with different physical properties.

Some shells are so far apart that their direct contact and direct mutual influence are excluded. But just on the surface of the Earth, water, air, organisms and minerals are not only in close contact, but also in the most complex mutual penetration and interaction. Almost all solar heat is concentrated on the surface of the Earth, which does not penetrate deep into the globe, just as it does not penetrate in significant quantities into the layers of the atmosphere remote from the earth. Life develops only on the surface of the Earth and near this surface. On the surface of the Earth, the most intense processes are unfolding due to the inflowing from the world space solar energy(the activity of water, wind, ice, etc.), and the consequences of their contradictory interaction with another group of processes excited by the internal heat of the Earth (various movements of the earth's crust) are especially pronounced. Only on the surface of the Earth, and nowhere else, does the formation of soil cover and sedimentary rocks, and only here can all three physical states substances - solid, liquid and gaseous. All this taken together allows us to assert that the surface of the Earth and the parts of the atmosphere and hydrosphere adjacent to it are an area that is qualitatively different from all other shells of our planet.

Speaking of the earth's surface as an object of his science, the physical geographer has in mind not just a physical or mathematical surface, but an internally integral material system, a special earthly shell, which differs from other shells of the planet by the greatest complexity of its composition and structure. material system this one in every this moment represents from the outside a well-known combination of the relief of the lithosphere, its geological structures and lithological complexes, water and air masses, soil cover and the organic world in the broad sense of the word.

This system can be studied primarily in two main aspects: 1) as something unified, as an integral and regular complex of objects, phenomena; this kind of study is the study of a complex but concrete reality; 2) each component or group constituent parts systems can be examined separately; such a study deals with a well-known abstraction.

Both methods of research are quite legitimate, necessary and develop in parallel, rendering mutual services to each other, but it is quite obvious that the formal integration of information obtained by the second method cannot replace the study of the earth's surface produced by the first method.

On the surface of the Earth, neither water, nor air, nor rocks, nor organisms are independent of each other. They exist together, and if only for this reason, their development takes on a new direction that cannot be predicted and clarified by examining them separately. In the complex of phenomena, the course of each of them acquires a different character than in the case of their isolated existence. If we do not remember this, the whole world will appear before us in the form of a continuous chain of unsolvable riddles.

Humidity climate is determined primarily by the amount of precipitation. At the same time, with the same amount of precipitation, the climate in the tundra is humid, in the desert it is dry, because the role of precipitation, which is the same in both these regions, is “distorted” by the influence of evaporation, which proceeds with different intensity in the tundra and desert. A person can experience exactly the same thermal sensation at an air temperature of + 17 °.8 and at a temperature of + 27 °.8, but provided that in the first case the air is still and saturated with water vapor, and in the second case the relative humidity is 40%, and the wind speed is 2 m/s. Without taking into account the deviation of the earth's axis from the perpendicular with respect to the plane of the earth's orbit, we will never understand why winter happens in our hemisphere just at the time when the earth is closest to the sun, i.e.

heating source.

There are many such examples showing that when phenomena coexist and interact, not a simple sum of them, but a new quality is formed, one can cite many.

And it is obvious that, just as it is impossible to study the properties of sugar on the basis of mere acquaintance with the characteristics of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, which form sugar in their chemical compound, it is also impossible to truly study the surface of the Earth, if we simply add up all the information about relief, soil and other components involved in its structure. For before us is not a mechanical construction of soil, relief, vegetation and other components, but a qualitatively new formation that has developed historically as a result of the joint mutually conditioned existence and development of these parts. According to the analogy already used, the earth's surface is a "carbohydrate", and not just "carbon + oxygen + hydrogen".

Therefore, there is no doubt that the real complex called the surface of the Earth deserves an independent study in its entirety, in addition to an analytical study of its individual aspects. Moreover, this complex cannot in general be studied only analytically, because the application of this or that method depends far from our arbitrariness, but also on the subject to be investigated: analysis, which decomposes a given concrete phenomenon and, in order to highlight the law, gives form of abstraction to individual aspects of the phenomenon, is not able to characterize the undecomposed quality, because the abstract substances discovered with its help will no longer be the primary real object.

The study of the surface of the Earth as a certain integral system is the task of physical geography. Analytical study of individual aspects or certain combinations of individual aspects of this system is the task of other branches of knowledge.

To designate an object of physical geography, various terms have been proposed in our literature: geographical shell (A. A. Grigoriev), geographical sphere (D. L. Armand), geochora (Yu. P. Byallovich), landscape shell (Yu. K. Efremov) , geographical environment (A. M. Smirnov, Yu. G. Saushkin, K. K. Markov, A. D. Gozhev, V. L. Kotelnikov and others). In the first edition of our book, we adhered to the term "geographical shell", losing sight of the fact that such a name creates the prerequisites for a vicious logical circle if we then define geography as "the science of geographical envelope". For the same reasons, the term "geographical sphere" is also inappropriate. In the name "geographical environment", if we talk about this environment as an object of physical geography, there are also elements of tautology; moreover, it is difficult in principle to identify the geographical environment as a concept of historical materialism with the concept of an object of physical geography. The object of science must have its limits. Therefore, for the geographical environment, if we make it an object of physical geography, it is necessary to indicate the boundaries. But historical materialism does not establish any limits or volume of the geographical environment, which is natural, since it puts only a general philosophical meaning into this concept: the nature that surrounds us. This means that by defining the boundaries for the geographical environment as an object of their science, physical geographers will thereby create a second meaning for the same term "geographical environment", which differs from that which is accepted in historical materialism. The legitimacy of such an approach can be doubted.

There is another consideration that speaks against the mechanical identification of the geographic environment with the object of physical geography. In historical materialism, the concept of the geographical environment means not only the nature around us, but also the economic relation human society to this natural environment: the geographical environment is one of the constant and necessary material conditions for the existence of society. But since nature exists independently of our will, our consciousness and the presence or absence of our economic relations with it, there is no need to define this nature as an object of natural science through the attitude of human society to nature.

What are the boundaries of the landscape shell? It can be assumed, based on its definition, that it extends upward from physical surface Earth, at least up to the tropopause, since the entire troposphere with its air masses is in direct and active interaction with the earth's surface. In the earth's crust, the landscape shell extends on average to a depth of 4-5 km, corresponding to the average thickness of the shell of sedimentary rocks, which arose as a result of the interaction of the lithosphere, atmosphere, organisms and hydrosphere; Obviously, the maximum depth known in the history of the Earth of tectonic subsidence of the lithosphere surface under the level of the World Ocean (in geosynclines 15-20 km) is the lowest limit of the landscape shell. The entire thickness of the hydrosphere and the entire organic world are also included in the landscape envelope. The total thickness of the landscape shell of the Earth does not exceed 30-35 km.

The landscape envelope of the Earth is so real and so qualitatively different from other parts of our planet that many authors were forced to separate it, although under different names and within somewhat different boundaries. So, V. I. Vernadsky calls it the biosphere and refers to it the lower layers of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the upper layers of the earth's crust. A. E. Fersman calls her the earth's crust, because in the latter it includes the atmosphere up to a height of 10–20 km, the hydrosphere and lithosphere to a depth of 15–20 km. L. V. Pustovalov calls it the zone of sedimentation or sedimentation, referring to this zone the lower parts of the atmosphere, the entire hydrosphere and the upper part of the lithosphere.

In short, a scientist of any specialty, who quite objectively studies the surface of the Earth, is forced to recognize the reality and qualitative originality of what physical geographers put at the center of their attention and what they do. specific object of your research.

IN Lately E. M. Lavrenko proposed to distinguish in the landscape shell a special layer of the highest concentration of life - the so-called phytogeosphere, understanding the latter as the entire set of plants and animals and the environment (solid, liquid and gaseous) that is saturated with life. The thickness of the phytogeosphere on land is several tens of meters, in the seas and oceans 100-350 m.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

In contact with

Geography is a science that studies the surface of the planet Earth as an environment where mankind arose and develops. Everyone is familiar with the earth's surface. People live on it, run a household, they travel on it. The earth's surface is remarkably diverse. It consists of many dissimilar sections (elements): continents and oceans, mountains and plains, rivers and lakes. The unique appearance of the earth's surface is also given by what is on it: forests, cities, etc.

Geographic features- this is the name of the elements of the earth's surface with everything that is located on them. Studying geographical objects, the science of geography answers several questions:

What is a geographic feature? To study a geographical object, first of all, you need to determine what it is - a lake or a pond, a factory or a school, a lowland or a mountain. Geographical objects can be natural (natural) - continents, islands, seas, rivers, mountains or anthropogenic (artificial) - buildings, roads, ports, pipelines.

Where is the geographical feature located? For geography, it is very important to determine the position of an object on the earth's surface. It depends on it appearance and properties (for example, people's dwellings in warm and cold regions of the Earth are absolutely different).

What does a geographic feature look like? The image of a geographical object is its most important characteristic. For many objects, the image is so vivid that a glance is enough to remember them well (for example, Mount Fuji in Japan, skyscrapers in New York, Egyptian pyramids or the Kremlin in Moscow).

For practical purposes, vivid impressions alone are not enough. Therefore, geographical objects are carefully described, defining their main properties. In mountains, this is the height and steepness of the slopes. Rivers have width, depth and speed of flow. Buildings have the area they occupy, height and shape.

Toponym

Toponym(from other Greek τόπος (topos) - "place", and ὄνομα (onoma) - "name, name") - a proper name denoting the name (identifier) ​​of a geographical object. Toponyms are studied by the science of toponymy.

Types of toponyms

Among toponyms, various classes are distinguished:

  • Horonyms - the names of any territories, regions, districts
  • Astionyms - names of cities
  • Urbanonyms - names of intracity objects
  • Godonyms - street names
  • Agoronyms - names of squares
  • Dromonyms - names of communication routes
  • Hydronyms are geographical names of water bodies, including:
    - Pelagonyms - the names of the seas
    - Limnonyms - names of lakes
    - Potamonyms - names of rivers
    - Gelonyms - names of swamps, wetlands
  • Oronyms - names of raised landforms (mountains, ridges, peaks, hills)
  • Oikonyms - names of settlements
  • Microtoponyms - the names of small objects (lands, tracts, hayfields, pastures, swamps, cutting areas, burnt areas, pastures, wells, springs, whirlpools, rapids, etc., usually known only to a limited circle of people living in a certain area)
  • Geonyms - names of roads, driveways, etc.

In toponyms (especially hydronyms), archaisms and dialectisms are persistently preserved, they often go back to the substratum languages ​​of the peoples who lived in this territory in the past, which allows them to be used to determine the boundaries of the settlement of ethnic communities (for example, the Slavs in Europe or the Turkic peoples and ethnic groups in Ukraine).