Regions are areas on the surface of the Earth that are defined by certain unifying characteristics.  These characteristics may be physical or they may be human.   For example, the peaks and valleys of the Rocky Mountains form a physical region.   The corn belt, on the other hand, forms a human region.  Large farms and similar crops unite several midwestern states into this region, where corn has been the mainstay.  Regions provide an organized way to study Earth's landscapes and peoples. Back to The Five Themes of Geography Homepage Back to Augustana Geography Homepage