These photos are provided by Penny Anderson, World Geography and AP Human Geography teacher, Spotsylvania County Schools.
South Africa (2011).
Note the varying land use and farmland in the Cape Farms with different crops tilled right up to the base of the Boland Mountains. This area of southern Africa is known for vineyards and vegetables like maize and cabbage. Fields are in grid patterns following irrigation sources and ease for plowing.
Cape Town, South Africa (2011).
Note the residential land in the foreground and farmland in the back ground. Spot the oval track off to the right. The location of good farmland influences the economic activity and different patterns of land use in the region.
Cape Town, South Africa (2011).
The city’s energy comes mostly from coal burning plants to the north. The electricity is sent through transformers to various substations around the Cape. The capital resources and power infrastructure bears evidence to the emerging strength of South Africa.
Cape Town, South Africa (2011).
The availability of cheap land can influence development and quality of life. Squatter settlements built from corrugated metal, cardboard, and wooden boards are seen around Cape Town. These settlements do not typically have running water, permanent power source, or paved infrastructure. These poor neighborhoods exist nearby wealthy neighborhoods but are vastly different.
Camp’s Bay, South Africa (2011).
A suburb of Cape Town, Cape’s Bay is a community nestled between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. Note the density of settlement along the smooth coastline. There is a narrow strip of useable land between the oceanfront and the foot of the mountains for permanent settlement.
Cape Town, South Africa (2011).
The CBD is creating shadows in the morning sun. The harbor is seen along the coast. Patterns of urban development occur according to site and situation. Cape Town was built by the Dutch East India Company as a supply stop for shipping around the continent of Africa. It is an example of a city’s situation in regional and global connections. Over time, the city helped the entire region develop as part of an international trading and supply line.
Cape Town, South Africa (2011).
Cape Town Stadium in Green Point, built for the 2010 World Cup. This is a specific use for land to support the country’s love of soccer and to entertain spectators on a global scale. Soccer is the world’s most popular sport.
Near Hoedspruit, South Africa (2011).
Earth movers remove the top layer of soil for reclamation near irrigated fields. This area of South Africa supports economic activities that require extensive areas of land such as plantation agriculture.
Hoedspruit, South Africa (2011).
The location of arable land influences economic activity and patterns of land use. Agriculture is a primary level of activity. The classic shapes of pivot irrigation and nearby rowed fields are evident from the air. Note the different colors representing different crops such as maize, potatoes, sorghum, cabbages, and alfalfa.
Hoedspruit, South Africa (2011).
Circle shape of pivot irrigated fields. Crops may range from potatoes, tomatoes, onions, green mealies (maize), and sweet corn. Crops may also include tobacco and cotton.
Richmond, VA (2009).
Land use patterns near an airport shows tracts of land cleared for secondary air strips and warehouse/storage. Note trees still in place and possible areas of future airport or storage expansion.
Fredericksburg, VA (2009).
The city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, grew up along the fall line of the Rappahannock River. Note the density of population at the bend in the river, speculating that this is the beginning of the rapids in the river where sailors had to stop and settle rather than sail any further. Population settlement spread outward to the west from this part of the river.
Smith Lake, Stafford County, VA (2009).
Smith Lake is a man made reservoir on Aquia Creek in Stafford, VA. Note Interstate 95 in the foreground and the urbanization along the terrain. Smith Lake is also the site of a 17-acre public recreational facility.
Canadian Rockies (2009)
High above the Canadian Rockies, the setting sun is caught on the numerous snow capped peaks. Note the ice covered meandering river far below. No evidence of human settlement is present from this altitude.
Canadian Rockies (2009)
An evening flight above the Canadian Rockies, the setting sun is caught on the numerous snow capped peaks. The Rockies are the source for many streams and rivers. Note the stream in the foreground flowing off to the west, eventually draining into the Pacific Ocean.
Kashima, Japan (2009).
Kashima Oil tank farm, part of JX Nippon Oil & Energy seen through a misty Japanese morning. Oil refineries like this one are part of a country’s infrastructure. Resources such as petroleum are vital to a country’s power supply.
Narita, Japan (2009).
Farmland in neat and orderly boxes for ease of plowing and harvest. Due to the population density of Greater Tokyo, it’s surprising to see land use for farming and not for urbanization.
Bangkok, Thailand (2009).
Outside Bangkok, patterns of land use show both open space use and business/residential use. The development of the land near the BKK airport is known for business, storage, and manufacturing. Note also the paved roads connecting the business areas.
Fairfax County, VA (2009).
Views of the typical material landscape of Northern Virginia. Influence of the car on the American landscape is evident in interstate highways like the beltway around Washington, DC.
Atlantic Coast, USA (looking south) (2009).
Winter snows cover the coastline of the American North Atlantic. Note the grid patterns of the streets parallel to the beachfront. This is the typical transportation network along the Mid-Atlantic seaboard.
Mississippi River (January 2009)
The snow covered region of the northern Great Plains is cut by the icy Mississippi River. Note the classic drainage basin shape of smaller streams and tributaries of the region.
St.Paul, MN (2009).
Located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, urban sprawl of St. Paul is seen spreading outward from the CBD. This is typical in North America to see conversion of agricultural land in the Mid-West. Note Holman Field in the foreground, St. Paul’s downtown airport.
Over Minnesota (January 2009).
Ottertail Lake, West Battle Lake, and Clitherall Lake in Minnesota’s Glendalough State Park. The icy lakes are a typical sight in the American Mid-West . Due to the flat land, drainage basins are home to wide open lakes and meandering rivers since the change in elevation is slight. It is no surprise that these glacier remnant lakes cause Minnesota to be nicknamed “Land of 10,000 lakes”.
North Dakota (2009).
The US state of North Dakota in January. Snowfall makes the grid streets run clear in one of America’s largest plains. Grid street patterns follow the typical grid survey lines of American boundary lines west of the Mississippi River.
Wahpeton, ND and Breckenridge, MN (2009).
These twin towns are located at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux River and the Otter Tail River. These two rivers are the source for the Red River, one of the north flowing rivers of North America.
Over North Dakota, USA (2009).
Typical landscape of the American Mid-West. The street patterns follow the typical survey grids of the political boundaries within North Dakota.
Sorrento Coast, Italy (2009).
There is a narrow strip of land for building between in Bay of Naples and the coastal hills near Sorrento, Italy along the Sorrento Coast. Note the typical architecture of southern Italy built along the rugged coastal landscape.
Athens, Greece (2008).
The Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens. One of the world’s most recognized cultural icons, the Parthenon was built as a temple to Athena on one of the highest points in Athens, Greece. The Parthenon remains today as a testament to the strength and longevity of the Greeks.
Athens, Greece (2008).
Urban sprawl at the base of the hills of Athens. Note the population density and clustering of the built landscape in the Attica Basin and the scarcity of built landscape as the land rises toward the hills.
Lake District, UK (2008).
Overlooking Derwent Water from Glenderaterra Beck rise in England’s Lake District. This physical landscape is typical of the Lake District and many locals and tourists are drawn to walking the many hills and trails of the region.
