Course Description
The geography of mountainous regions from around the world will be compared to emphasize complexities of the geo-ecosystem and the interplay between humans and the landscape in mountainous terrain. Environmental issues, sustainable resource development, and the historical roots of cultural distinctness in mountainous areas will be analyzed with case studies.
Athena Title
Mountain Geography
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The Mountain Geography course is designed to expose current issues of mountain systems, including the role of humans in the environment by analyzing: • the epistemography of mountains as a research theme, • the biogeography of mountain biodiversity, • the geoecology of mountain societies, • the case studies of water usage in orobiomes, • the advances in ethnoecology research and mountain cultures, • the urbanization of mountain areas and associated environmental impacts, • the influence of globalization in socioeconomic scenarios of mountains, and • the pathways for sustainable mountain development. This course meets the following General Education Abilities by accomplishing the specific learning objectives listed below: Communicate effectively through writing. This is met by a series of writing assignments associated with supplemental reading and data analysis. Communicate effectively through speech. This is met by oral presentations, discussion leading, and classroom participation. Computer Literacy is addressed through course administration, student-faculty electronic interaction, and data analysis activities and assignments. Critical Thinking is central to the learning objectives of this class, and is developed through homework assignments, lecture, classroom discussion, and inquiry- based learning efforts. Moral Reasoning (Ethics) is an important element of this course, as it explores linkages among the physical environment, hazards, human health and welfare, and appropriate technologies. Moral reasoning is developed through lectures, writing assignments, classroom discussion, and inquiry-based learning activities.
Topical Outline
Mountain epistemography Mountains in Geographical Enquiry The concept of verticality. Archipelagoes Systems theory in mountains: the cog model Pie models. Spatially explicit models The Himalayan Dilemma The Andean Dilemma The Alpesian Dilemma Altitude, continentality, latitude, climate, winds, seasonality and frost Soil types, geomorphology Processes, orogeny, glaciers, fluvial activity, landslides, avalanches Volcanism, plutonism, tectonism Mineralogy and hydrology Mountain biota Mountain and elfin forests Treeline dynamics Tropical Cloud Forests Mountain people and cultures Communities within highlands Transhumance Antiquity on mountains Mountain agriculture Mountain mining Amenity migration in mountains Mountain forestry Mountain water Mountain ecotourism Mountain energy sources Mountain transportation Mountain urban processes Mountain markets Mountain strategic sites Mountain protected areas Mountain biosphere reserves Mountains sacred sites Mountains in popular culture Mountains in vernacular culture Mountain ethnoecology Mountains as borders/hinterland Mountains as margins vs. core Mountain specificities Mountains as layers vs. slices Mountains as isolated vs. central Last day to accept extra-credit International Cooperation Mountain World Prospects