What defines geography?

I think there isn't one word to describe geography because it covers so many different subjects and has such a vast range of information. This is a positive thing however, because it allows students and people learning about the subject to not just what a flood is for example, but how it has environmental, economic and social impacts too. Yes geography covers physical things like the environment but it spreads over much more than that too! Here are some pictures...

The world- just a thought

In this world there are 196 countries, over 7.3 billion people and roughly a total area of 510.072 million sq km, yet I still cannot comprehend how big the world actually is. Am I the only one? You see the same faces everyday, the same buildings and trees, and even the same postman delivering the same boring bills. Things become so familiar and normal you forget you are in one country of 196 and you are just one person out of that 7.3. billion.  

It is just so strange how big the world is, I can't get over it! Imagine if you lived in each country for a week, each one would bring such a different experience and I find that really fascinating. Every country is so different that even identical twins would behave differently if they were in separate countries. People, money and the environment really are the foundations of any country yet they are all used in different ways and that is what makes the world so unique. 

Ecuador's Cotopaxi volcano eruption 2015

The volcano erupted on August 14th 2015, for the first time since 75 years. Volcanic ash reached an estimate altitude of 15.2km by the end of the day and it covered highways, homes and cars near the eruption. It is considered as one of the worlds most dangerous volcanoes because it is prone to fast moving volcanic rock and mud flows and this puts the population in great risk. It is one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes and this puts a burden on the villagers because they don't know when the next eruption could be that could put them in great danger. Hundreds of people were evacuated from the slopes of the volcano and the mud flow destroyed the nearby town of Latacunga. It's very saddening that we cannot stop a volcano from erupting because if we could, so many lives would be saved and people wouldn't have to worry about a volcano erupting near them. 

Are Great White Sharks really the enemy?

As intimidating as they seem, Great White Sharks don't have to be perceived as these horrible creatures that kill anything they come into contact with. Yes they are big, and yes they are great but at the end of the day they are just fish doing their own thing. According to nationalgraphic.com  this year alone so far 'there have been 61 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks around the world, 6 of them fatal'. I understand this is a lot, and it is not a figure that anyone should be happy with. But should we just kill them all? We can't kill them all because it is literally impossible and we won't or they won't learn anything from doing so. Not all Great White Sharks are bad. There are many more dog attacks in the world and we don't think all dogs are bad so why should we believe the same about these sharks? I think once you swim in their territory (ie the sea), it does become a dangerous situation and we all need to be more educated about the way sharks think before we swim with them. To prevent shark attacks, more deterrents could be put in place to prevent humans becoming dinner. For example, wearing wet suits that don't make human look like seals would be a good start, so any color but black and grey. Lots of research is being done on this and its exciting to wonder how things will be in 10 years! I am not saying great whites are angels, but i hope one day we can swim with them and not be afraid. 

Places I want to go to...

I am going to talk about a few places that I would love to visit!

...

Fiji Islands

Fiji is an island group of more than 332 islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets, adding up to a total land area of 18,300 square kilometers. I would love to visit the Fiji Islands because the scenery is stunning and it is just so different from where I have ever been before! To me, this is what heaven looks like! The water is so clear, the trees are so green and everything just looks so vibrant. They have a population of 842,000 and they speak English, Fijian and Hindustani. This kind of place would totally be a relaxing holiday and it would be a world away from the daily routine at home! Did you know that in Fijian villages, only the chief can wear hats and sunglasses and that the top of the head is sacred and must not be touched?! Anyway, this place is definitely on my bucket list!

Borneo

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and the largest island in Asia. The island is divided among three countries: Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia to the south. It has a total land area of 743,330 square kilometers of pure bliss. The Borneo Rainforest has an estimated age of 130 million years,making it the oldest rainforest in the world. I would love to visit here because of the views, but also what it has to offer. It would be amazing to trek through the rainforests and see the wildlife and see how special it is compared to the field next to my house!! I would love to see some orangutans that are not stuck in a cage and see them in the own environment, being happy. Borneo has the highest diversity of flora in the world with around 15,000 different species, just wow. I would never stop taking pictures! 

Madagascar

Madagascar is the world's fourth biggest island and most of its mammals, half of its birds and most of its plants exist nowhere else on earth. That is incredible. It seems like such a beautiful place to visit simply because it has so much that I have never seen before. I would love to walk down the Avenue of the Baobabs. I remember in year 7 I had to do a mini project on them and ever since then, I have wanted to see one in real life and also i have wanted to see the Lemurs of Madagascar! Madagascar has a current population of 24,792,727 people and sadly around 70% of the population are living below the national poverty line threshold of $1 per day. I would love to visit here and somehow make a difference in some way!