Geographical location - “the position of a geographical object relative to the surface of the Earth , as well as in relation to other objects with which it is in interaction ...” [1] . It characterizes "the place of a given object in the system of spatial relationships and flows ( material , energy , information ) and determines its relationship with the external environment" [2] . Usually reflects the geospatial relationship of a particular object to the external environment, the elements of which have or can have a significant impact on it. In public geography, position is usually defined in two-dimensional space (displayed on a map). In physical geography , the third change is certainly taken into account - the absolute or relative height of the location of objects [3] .
The concept of geographical location is key to the entire system of geographical sciences. In fact, geography was born as a science of methods for determining and fixing the location of objects on the earth's surface relative to each other or in some coordinate system. Later it turned out that determining the location of an object not only helps to find it ... but also explains some of the properties of this object and even predict its development. The most important element of geographical research is the establishment and analysis of relationships between objects located in space, determined precisely by their location [3] .
Thus the geographical location [3] :
- It is an individualizing factor, since it determines many properties of a geographical object;
- has a historical character, as it changes over time;
- has a potential character, since only one position is not a sufficient condition for the corresponding development of the object;
- It has close ties with the configuration of the territory and its borders.
In the framework of theoretical geography, B. B. Rodoman formulated the “positional principle” , which means the dependence of the properties of an object on its location, and the “principle of positional pressure” (“place pressure”) , which means the force that makes an object move if it has an optimal one for it functioning position [4] . The American geographer V. Bunge proposed the “displacement rule” , which means a change in the geographical position of flows when they are overstressed (overflow) in an existing channel. For example: river beds, vents of volcanoes, freeways, seaports [5] . Yu. K. Efremov even proposed a special type of maps - maps of geographical location [6] . However, L. V. Smirnyagin believes that in the modern world, as in geography, the characterization of the place itself in comparison with its location plays an increasingly important role [7]
The following types of geographical position are distinguished [3] [8] :
- mathematical-geographical (geodesic, astronomical, "absolute")
- physical and geographical;
- economic-geographical (EGP);
- political and geographical;
- geopolitical;
- military-geographical;
- ecological and geographical;
- cultural and geographical;
other.
In terms of scale,
- macroposition
- location
- microposition
According to the coordinate system distinguish:
- absolute (geodesic, astronomical);
- relative;
- mathematical ("3 miles north of Seattle");
- functional (economic-geographical, physical-geographical, etc.).
In an expanded interpretation, the geographical position may also include the ratio of the area object as a whole (range, region, territory) to the data lying inside it (to the elements of the internal environment). Such a geographical location can be called, for example, “ introspective ” [9] (from lat. Introspectus , intro - inside + spicere - look). For example, when assessing the role of the internal border regions in the priority areas of foreign policy [9] , when assessing the geocriminogenic position of the territory [10] , when analyzing the transport-geographical position, when examining a variable range in relation to experience stations, a linguistic range in relation to the dialect center etc. Such an approach allows one to resolve a conflict with the determination of the mutual geographical position of intersecting objects.
Historical Review
The concept of “geographical location” has been known since the end of the 18th century, when the paradigm of geographical determinism dominated. The ideas about the conditionality of life of people and society by the geographical environment were put forward by ancient thinkers such as Democritus , Herodotus , Strabo and others. Sources of geographical information during this period were descriptions of individual countries and peoples, characteristics of settled and remote lands. For the purposes of navigation and trade, special descriptions of the seas, ports, and shopping centers were compiled, in which there was information about the peculiarities of the geographical position of the country through which the trade route passed. Historian-geographer V. K. Yatsunsky believed that the first economic-geographical work in history should be considered the work of the Italian scientist Ludovico Gvichchardini “Description of the Netherlands”, which was published in 1567, where the first part of the book analyzes the geographical position of the country and assessment of the role of the sea. In 1650, in the same Netherlands, the work of Vareny (Varenius) , General Geography, was published, which is considered the first theoretical work on geography. S. P. Krasheninnikov in "Description of the Land of Kamchatka" (1756) gave a detailed description of its geographical location. The search for patterns of spatial distribution of settlements and the creation of models of the geography of cities began in the first half of the 20th century. One of the first scientists who approached the creation of models of the geography of cities was V.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky . Geographical aspects in line with the problems of farm location were developed by German scientists and created the so-called standard theory. Representatives of this direction were I. Thünen , A. Weber , A. Lösch and others. The American geographer W. Bunge called geography "the science of places." In this non-standard and original definition, there is a deep sense that each geographical object has its own individual place. A great contribution to the development of the theory of geographical position was made by Soviet geographers N. N. Baransky and I. M. Maergoiz .
Notes
- ↑ Geographic encyclopedic dictionary. Concepts and Terms / Ed. A.F. Treshnikov. M., 1988, p. 55
- ↑ Isachenko A.G. Theory and methodology of geographical science. M: Academy, 2004, p. 87
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 Theory and Methodology of Geographical Science / M. M. Golubchik, S. P. Evdokimov, G. N. Maksimov, A. M. Nosonov. M .: Vlados, 2005, p.262
- ↑ Rodoman B. B. Positional principle and pressure of a place // Bulletin of Moscow. University, Ser. 5. Geography. 1979. Issue 4. S.14-20
- ↑ Bunge V. Theoretical Geography. M., 1967.S.50-55.
- ↑ Efremov Yu. K. Maps of a geographical location // Life of the Earth: collection. Museum of Geography, Moscow State University. M.: Publishing House of Moscow State University, 1961. Issue 1. S.158-163.
- ↑ Smirnyagin L.V. Place instead of location? (On shifts in the fundamental concepts of geography) // Geographical location and territorial structures: in memory of I. M. Maergoise / Comp. P.M. Polyan and A.I. Trayvish. M .: New Chronograph, 2012.S. 421-457.
- ↑ Mashbits Y. G. Geographical location // Mashbits Y. G. Integrated regional geography. M .; Smolensk, 1998. S. 101-112.
- ↑ 1 2 Elatskov A. B. Political geospace as an object of research. II. Geographical relations and types of geolocation // Tomsk State University Journal . SPb. un-that. Ser. 7: geology, geography. 2013. Issue. 1. S. 107-116
- ↑ Badov A. D. Geocriminogenic situation as a factor of crime // Izv. RAS. Geographical series. 2009. No 2. P.48-51
Links
- Geographical location // Great Soviet Encyclopedia : [in 30 vol.] / Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov . - 3rd ed. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
- Geographical location // Modern Illustrated Encyclopedia. Geography / Ed. A.P. Gorkina - M .: Rosman. 2006.