Population, cities, canals, and human impact on geography
Most of the world's population lives in the Northern Hemisphere.
Many of the world's largest cities are located near coasts or major rivers due to trade and transportation advantages.
The Suez Canal links the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, providing a key shipping route between Europe and Asia.
The Panama Canal links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, shortening sea travel between them.
Many national borders follow natural features such as rivers, mountains, or deserts, though many are also historical or political lines.
Time zones are based on Earth's rotation; local solar noon occurs at different times across longitudes.
The International Date Line roughly follows 180° longitude in the Pacific but zigzags to avoid splitting countries and islands.
Urbanization is the process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in cities.
Megacities are metropolitan areas with populations exceeding 10 million people.
The world's population is unevenly distributed, with most people living in Asia.
Migration patterns have shaped the distribution of human populations throughout history.
The Nile River Valley and Mesopotamia are among the world's earliest centers of civilization.
Transportation networks, including roads, railways, and shipping routes, connect human settlements.
Agricultural regions are often located in fertile river valleys and plains with favorable climates.
Industrial regions developed near sources of raw materials, energy, and transportation hubs.
Language families and cultural regions often correspond to geographic boundaries and historical migration.
Religious sites and pilgrimage routes have influenced settlement patterns and cultural geography.
Colonialism and imperialism have left lasting impacts on political boundaries and cultural geography.
Globalization has increased interconnectedness between distant places through trade, communication, and travel.
Demographic transition describes the shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as countries develop.