Geography Awareness Week: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about Geography Awareness Week (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. Geography Awareness Week is observed on November 14th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of Geography Awareness Week, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as interesting facts you should know about Geography Awareness Week.

📅 What day is Geography Awareness Week 2024?

In 2024, Geography Awareness Week is on Tuesday, November 14th. It is the 2nd Tuesday in November; in 2024, it is Thursday. There are until the next observance. You also can learn all the exciting details and facts about November 14, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Geography Awareness Week, taking place from November 14–18 this year, aims to raise awareness about the significance of geography in our lives and encourage individuals to reflect on their connection to the environment. Interestingly, the term “geography” was first used by Eratosthenes of Cyrene (276 B.C.–194 B.C.) in his work “Geographica.” Geography involves the study of locations and how people interact with their surroundings. It is a diverse field that encompasses various disciplines such as geology, botany, economics, sociology, and demography. “National Geographic” was established in 1987 through a presidential decree after being produced by “National Geographic” previously.

📜 Geography Awareness Week History

During Roman rule, geography played a crucial role in the development and expansion of the empire. The Romans utilized geographical knowledge to create an extensive transportation system, consisting of 50,000 kilometers of roads, as well as canals, aqueducts, tunnels, mines, and military expeditions. The Peutinger Table, a famous map of that time, displayed the entire Roman Empire, including regions like the Middle East, Britain, Africa, and even distant places like China, India, and Sri Lanka.

In the 13th century, geography gained momentum as explorers like Marco Polo ventured across the known world, inspiring others to follow suit. The Portuguese and Spanish also made significant contributions to the field during the 15th and 16th centuries. Early supporters of geographic studies such as Richard Hakluyt, Theodore de Bry, and Giambattista Ramusio emerged during this period.

Geography began to be recognized as a distinct subject in the 18th century, finding its place in university curriculums across Europe. However, in the United Kingdom, it is often taught as a sub-discipline. The Royal Geographical Society was established in the UK in 1830, with the National Geographic Society following suit 58 years later in the United States. Geography has continued to evolve and expand in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, encompassing various aspects of our lives and our interactions with the environment. It has undergone changes in the past and will likely undergo further transformations in the future.

✅ Geography Awareness Week Facts

🔖 Russia is home to 11 time zones
Russia is not only the largest country in the world, but it also stretches across two continents and covers an astounding 6.6 million square miles. To put its size into perspective, it is 70 times bigger than the United Kingdom and spans across both Europe and Asia.

🔖 The Northern Hemisphere is home to almost everyone
Approximately 7.7 billion people, which is about 90% of the global population, reside in the Northern Hemisphere. This region encompasses the half of the Earth located north of the Equator.

🔖 Antarctica is the largest desert globally
Antarctica, spanning 5.5 million square miles, holds the title of being the largest desert on Earth. Due to its vast icy landscape, it poses an inhospitable environment for the growth of plants and the survival of animals.

👍 Why Is Geography Awareness Week Important

Climate change and unpredictability, fast biodiversity loss, and rising inequities are all threats to human survival now and in the future. Geography is a field that intersects with several others, including physics, chemistry, geology, political science, and sociology. This enables us to use it to go further into the fundamental causes of these issues and find solutions.

Geography provides information and skills for understanding natural processes and Earth systems. It shows how our actions influence the environment and how interrelated we are. For example, an increase in global temperature caused by human activity can have a significant influence on climate patterns, pushing us to adjust our way of life.

Understanding your location in relation to your surroundings by using landmarks, telling north from south, using maps to find your way in an unfamiliar place, or learning how to utilize GPS are some of the navigation abilities that geography teaches us.

🙂 How To Observe Geography Awareness Week

⚡ Go EarthCaching with friends

⚡ Organize a Geography Awareness Week event
Geography Awareness Week aims to educate individuals on the significance of geography and our relationship with the environment. If you have knowledge in geography, you can teach others in an interesting manner or invite a guest speaker to do so. To enhance the experience, you can arrange film screenings, a trivia night or competition, or a series of talks. Before implementing these activities, it is important to decide on a suitable venue, which could be a public location or your own home if you prefer a more intimate gathering with family and close friends. Don’t forget to send out invitations and plan the necessary arrangements. For more detailed ideas, you can refer to the “National Geographic” website.

⚡ Go geocaching
EarthCaching is a kind of geocaching. It’s a fascinating way to learn about your surroundings and their natural processes. You and your friends or coworkers may plan an EarthCaching field trip. And if you’re a teacher, EarthCaching is an excellent way to teach your students about geography. The EarthCaching and Geocaching websites have a wealth of information on this pastime.

📅 When is Geography Awareness Week?

You can view all 🔗 November holidays, including 🔗 Special Interest and other 🔗 Awareness holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and must-know facts about Geography Awareness Week. So be sure to check back soon.