Simply stated, geography studies the locations of things and the explanations that underlie spatial distributions. Profound forces at work throughout the world have made geographical knowledge increasingly important for understanding numerous human dilemmas and our capacities to address them.With more than 1,200 entries, theEncyclopedia of Geographyreflects how the growth of geography has propelled a demand for intermediaries between the abstract language of academia and the ordinary language of everyday life. The six volumes of this encyclopedia encapsulate a diverse array of topics to offer a comprehensive and useful summary of the state of the discipline in the early 21st century.Key FeaturesGives a concise historical sketch of geography's long, rich, and fascinating history, including human geography, physical geography, and GISProvides succinct summaries of trends such as globalization, environmental destruction, new geospatial technologies, and cyberspaceDecomposes geography into the six broad subject areas: physical geography; human geography; nature and society; methods, models, and GIS; history of geography; and geographer biographies, geographic organizations, and important social movementsProvides hundreds of color illustrations and images that lend depth and realism to the textIncludes a special map sectionKey ThemesPhysical GeographyHuman GeographyNature and SocietyMethods, Models, and GISPeople, Organizations, and MovementsHistory of GeographyThis encyclopedia strategically reflects the enormous diversity of the discipline, the multiple meanings of space itself, and the diverse views of geographers. It brings together the diversity of geographical knowledge, making it an invaluable resource for any academic library.