Tourism Year 9

We have come to the end of tectonics and are now moving rapidly onto tourism. To get you in the mood take the Travelers IQ challenge, more difficult than you would at first think!
If you are going to be a tourist you have to know where you are going so the following tetris style game on Europe, Statetris, just might ensure that you know your Balkans from your Bulgaria and your London from your Lisbon!
It is worth going to the Visited Countries website and then fill in all of the countries that you have visited in your life, it might suprise you especially when you consider your potential carbon footprint. I was suprised when I filled in mine!
It is worth thinking about the relationship between the growth of Globalisation and the ease with which we can travel around the world, especially important for those of you who will turn up in January with excuses why you didnt do your homework because you were in Brazil, Lisbon, Skiing....or whatever!
Being a tourist is increasingly beeing seen as a lifestyle choice, and some countries are marketing themselves very agressively, and it is no wonder because tourism is a multi billion dollar global industry that can effectively make or break some countries financially.

Year 9 Christmas Homework

Shock, Horror! Is there no escape from Geography?
Homework over the Christmas Holidays is to finish the worksheet you have been given on the two tourism case studies and the past paper question on population. It shouldnt take you too long.I hope!

You also need to ensure that all work set on Tectonics has been completed so that you can hand in your completed files before the holidays.

Year 10 Christmas Revision

In order to revise effectively for the forthcoming exams you will need to know exactly what it is that you have to revise.
The Revision Checklist is essential,you simply have to print it off and then tick the relevant sections and add notes.....easy and a guaranteed way in which you can check what you do and dont know.
The detailed syllabus along with the 2007 past paper and mark scheme can all be found here and it is really useful to have a complete copy of the syllabus so that you can ensure that you are revise what the examiners will test you on.



It may sound silly but watch these videos on how to maximise your efficiency in revision, it will help you gain that A grade that you want at IGCSE so that you can go on to study IB Geography with no worries!



These are my personal favourite ways to revise, you may think differently but it never hurts to try out different ways to revise as it really does help. Also try going round to a friends house to revise, yes chat and eat chocolate but also use the time effectively and you will be able to double your revision effort, two brains are ffectively better than one sometimes.

IGCSE Settlement Revision

Settlement along with population are the two topics that you can guarantee that a revision question will come up in the exam. Settlement is also frequently used in the fieldwork paper which we will cover in another revision post.

This interactive map of Urban Growth from the BBC is fascinating and is also an excellent introduction.
It has been projected by the UN that world population will expand from 6.1 billion to 7.8 billion between 2000 and 2025 with 90% of the gowth occuring in urban areas or less developed countries (Population Reference Bureau). In 1800, only 3% of the world's population lived in urban areas, by 2000 this was estimated to be 47% and according to the Population Reference Bureau it is projected to reach 58% by 2025!

In this unit of the course, we will explore the growth of settlements in both MEDCs and LEDCs, looking at the reasons for, and changes in their growth and development as well as the resulting problems. We will also consider the patterns of land-use that have developed and some of the issues faced in managing these urban areas.
Wikipedia is a great place to start, especially fro general information
BBC Urban Planet has a series of articles that are all relevant.
Internet Geography offers a general overview
The BBC offers a photo archive that offers a broad view of the issues we look at

Here are all of the key headings that you need to be able to revise effectivey.
Make sure you are away of what is meant by the site and situation of a settlement and that you are able to make use of OS map evidence to describe site and situation (this is commonly required in the fieldwork paper).
BBC Bitesize, what is a settlement

1.Land-Use zones - you need to be able to describe and account for differences between the characteristics of land-use zones within settlements - remember the zones within the Burgess model - CBD; Inner City; Inner Suburbs; Outer Suburbs; Rural-urban fringe;
Rural Urban fring definition
Remember that there will be subtle differences in the land use zones of LEDCs and MEDCs, if you are not sure what I mean take a look at the excellent Daniel Raven Ellison and his Urban Earth project as he walks across differnt urban areas taking a photograph every 10 steps, sounds wierd but it is compelling!
Try google maps also, you could always start by watching this video and then googling wher you live and the surrounding area then possibly either moving towards the centre of Porto or away from it, what do you see in the changes of land use and utilisation?


2. Conflict at the Urban-Rural Fringe - be aware of the conflicts between land-users at the rural-urban fringe, types of development that locate in this area and strategies to try and reduce urban sprawl, e.g. green belts.

3. Case Study of Urban Regeneration - make sure that you are able to discuss a case study of urban regeneration such as the London Docklands - remember you must be able to give clear locational detail and specific facts and figures to reach the highest marks.

4. Case Study of Urban Traffic Management - remember to learn a case study - again you must be able to give clear locational detail and specific facts and figures to reach the highest marks.
We looked at the cost on companies of congestion making employees late and also holding up potential deliveries of goods and services, The environmental impact of pollution, noise, parking difficulties, stress on commuters, problems with public transport.
All of these are exemplifies in the Top Gear Race across London, which we saw in class but as it so classic I though that you might want to waste a few minutes of your valuable revision time watching it again.

You have to remember however that it is not all negative and that cities like New York, London and Paris are all attempting to combat congestion in a variety of different ways. The congestion charge in London has been particularly successful. As has the scheme to rent bicycles in Paris.

5. Know an example of the attractions and problems of an out-of-town shopping centre like Mar Shopping and the financial problems that it is currently experiencing. Think about the impact that Nort Shopping has on the local area, especially Matosinhos over the last few weekends which have been particularly wet, wher would you rather do your weekly shop and why?

6. Understand the causes and consequences of counterurbanisation (urban-rural migration), the impact on suburbanised villages and the impact of second homes in relation to changes in village populations.

7. Understand the concept of a settlement hierarchy and the interdependence of a town and its surrounding area (e.g. sphere of influence, threshold population etc.)
Settlement Hierarchy wikipedia definition
Shopping hierarchy

8. Housing Shortages and their Management is an issue of considerable importance in both MEDCs but LEDCs as well. We looked at the shortage of affordable housing in the South East of the UK around London and the you could also consider the possible impact of the corrent economic downturn on building companies and their current reluctance to build property at the moment.

9. Squatter settlements and the growth of cities in LEDC´s, we looked primarily at Mumbai in India as a case study of the worlds largest slum settlements. Slumdog millionare is great for this, but if you dont have the spare time to watch the film, this clip will just have to do instead.



Case studies are essential in order to gain you the higher grades.
BBC Bitesize has excellent information on Urban models in both MEDCs and LEDCs