The English term region has evolved through Old French from the Latin regio, which meant at first “direction” but soon was extended to mean “limit” and “area.” At present the term means “area” or “space,” i.e., it may refer to a two-dimensional or three-dimensional concept.
In geography the term has been used in the sense of “definite area” or “functional area”—almost irrespective of magnitude. The first discussion of the subject is due to Herbertson (1905) who coined the expression “major natural regions,” which implies the existence of “minor” regions and also of other regions besides the “natural” ones. The determination of orders of magnitude among regions was recognized as a problem. As to the aspects to be considered.
“Configuration is necessarily the framework, but we must not think of it merely as a more or less irregular surface; we must see it as part of a solid which comprises not merely the soil beneath, but the air above, with relations to other parts of the earth, and...
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Gentilli, J. (1968). Regions, natural and geographical . In: Geomorphology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31060-6_306
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