Location and place

Definition

Two of the five themes of geography. Location refers to where something is, described in absolute terms (latitude and longitude) or relative terms (near other landmarks). Place describes the physical and human characteristics that make a location unique.

Examples

  • The absolute location of Washington, D.C. is approximately 38.9°N, 77.0°W
  • The relative location of Mexico is south of the United States
  • The place characteristics of Paris include the Eiffel Tower, French language, and café culture

Related Terms

Physical geography Movement and regions Human-environment interaction Climate zones

Study This Concept

Practice location and place with free review games in these units:

World Geography Unit 1: Five Themes of Geography