A region is a portion of the Earth's surface that is defined by certain common characteristics which distinguish it from surrounding areas. These characteristics can be physical (such as landforms, climate, vegetation), human (such as culture, language, economic activities), or a combination of both. Regions can vary widely in scale and type, from large areas like continents or countries to smaller subdivisions within a country, such as states or provinces
. Regions often have boundaries that may be natural, cultural, or administrative, though these boundaries are sometimes imprecise or transitory. In geography, regions are used to organize and understand spatial diversity, allowing for comparison, planning, and analysis of different parts of the world
. There are different types of regions:
- Formal regions : Defined by clear boundaries and uniform characteristics, such as a country or a forest area.
- Functional regions : Defined by a central place and the surrounding areas linked to it, like a metropolitan area.
- Perceptual regions : Based on people's perceptions or cultural identity, such as "The South" in the United States
Regions can also be administrative divisions within countries, used for governance or statistical purposes, such as the NUTS regions in the European Union
. In summary, a region is a spatial unit distinguished by shared features, used in geography and social sciences to better understand and manage the Earth's surface and human activities on it
