Landscape Project: Introduction Module
This paper is devoted to the issue of the landscape. The main purpose of this module is to analyze definition of the “landscape” at different scales and provide appropriate examples. One more task of the paper is to choose a site from possible three places in order to analyze it Also, it needs to provide a description of the chosen landscape-site and form the hypotheses of its physical, economic/political and social settings.
1) Find at least two definitions of landscape and cite the source:
One definition of the landscape is that it is a particular area of the Earth’s surface with geographic features and specific characteristics (National Geographic Society, 2016). Another source identifies landscape as an area that includes mosaic of ecosystems, which interact one another (McGarigal, 2016).
2) In the space provided give your comprehensive definition of "landscape". What does it include? What does it not include?:
My comprehensive definition of the landscape is linked more to the following: landscape is a particular territory of the homogeneous natural environment. Landscape as a territory characterizes by specific relief, climate, flora and fauna, surface and underground water, soil. In my opinion, landscape must not include engineering structures created by people. At the same time, all components of the landscape are influenced by anthropogenic component (people and all that is connected with their life).
3) What personal experiences contribute to your landscape definition? For example, camping as a child in the backwoods.:
I think that all my personal experience with the natural environment can contribute the forming of my definition of the landscape. My experience includes travelling with family to different cities and places, rest in the forest, picnics with the friends in the local parks or near the lakes. At the same time, life in the city shows me how people, buildings, roads and other anthropogenic components are connected to one another and interact with the natural components (parks with green grass and trees, lakes, rivers and others).
4) Identify a small scale landscape, what interests you about it?:
An example of the small scale landscape can be Niagara Falls. I have seen it only once and it was unforgettable. The greatest feature of this waterfall, which is the most interesting for me, is great width and that it belongs to two countries. This falls is an example of the power and majesty of the natural processes.
5) Identify a large scale landscape, what interests you about it?:
An example of the large scale landscape can be Colorado Grand Canyon. It was formed by the water and wind erosion processes for a long time. This landscape allows me to understand how big capabilities of the nature and how particular human is small and vulnerable to natural cataclysms.
6) Identify a historical landscape, what interests you about it?:
The territory of the Harvard University can be interesting for me as a historical landscape. This university has been found in the 17th century. It differs by the rich history during more than four centuries. Explore this landscape can be quite cognizant and fascinating for me.
7) Identify a modern landscape, what interests you about it?:
The center of the city, Dubai is interested for me as a modern landscape. The huge number of high skyscrapers was built during the last years. The highest building, famous bulk island in the form of palm trees and world map – all of them is created by people in a short time. It is a really new kind of the landscape.
8) What landscapes have you visited that you found interesting and why were they interesting?:
I have visited many European and American cities the previous summer. The most incredible my impressions are connected with Paris, Venice, New-York and Italian island Sicily. Modern structure of cities, huge numbers of beautiful buildings with the bright history are characteristic of places, where I have been. At the same time, natural objects are more important in my experience and exploring landscapes. In this case, I have remembered, most of all, an island Sicily with its volcano and nature in general.
9) Please list two hobbies/interests; identify what types of landscapes are associated with these:
List your first hobby/interest: bicycle riding
Identify what types of landscapes are associated with your first hobby/interest and describe that landscape:
Different landscapes are connected with the above mentioned hobby. It can be local park or just road in the city. At the same time, I more like riding in the mountains or near the lakes, because it is a great opportunity to rest and enjoy the view of nature and explore new landscapes.
List your second hobby/interest: visiting art exhibitions
Identify what types of landscapes are associated with your second hobby/interest and describe that landscape:
I like landscapes not only in reality, but in art also. I regularly visit picture/photo exhibitions. Natural landscapes, like mountains, sea or ocean coast, trees and streams are the most interesting for me. Exploring some photos, it is possible to see how one or another region looked earlier. It is possible to see how cities developed and what was on the place, where, for example, my house has been constructed.
10) Identify three potential city, town, or village landscape analysis project sites? For each, discuss its location, the degree of accessibility, potential data sources (primary and secondary):
The first potential site for analysis is the city Venice. This city has arisen on the islands and functioned as a separate state for a long time. The territory of Venice is quite small, but it keeps a great history of the landscape development and influence of people on it. Nowadays, the population of the city is decreasing from year to year and the water level increases. After fifty or one hundred years, it can be a city-museum that will be opened only for tourists from the whole world.
The second potential site is New York City. It differs by complicated infrastructure systems that that permeates the island far and wide. New York characterizes by complicated history. The initial population of New York was Indians. Later this place was the battlefield during 17th and 18th centuries. Nowadays, it is one of the most important financial centers in the world, despite the fact it has been established in the high vulnerable place. Floods, strong waves or other natural processes can destroy the city and its usual image. At the same time, New York City is the suitable place for terroristic attacks as it was in 2001.
The third place is city Detroit. Its history started in the 18th century. This city was belonged to Canada for a long time. As we know, this city has experienced a great economic decline in the second half of the twentieth century. Oil and energy crises were the main reasons of the city degradation. Given that, its landscape, especially, in suburbs, has been strongly changed. Nowadays, Detroit takes the first place in the US as the most ruined city. In this case, it is interesting for me what changes have been in a city and what potential future of this city.
11) What is your proposed site?:
After analyzing possible sites, I have chosen Venice. I have been there the previous summer and I want to explore it in more detail.
12) Are you already familiar with your location, if so how?:
The first my familiarity with the chosen city has started at the age of 12-13 years, when I studied the map of Italy. I read about this city in different books. Later I have read the novel “Death in Venice” and have learned a history of this city in more detail (Mann, 1912). When I travelled to Venice previous summer, I have been on islands Lido, Burano and Murano and each of them differs by the specific features.
13) Give a brief description of what you already know about your landscape site:
I know that Venice is an administrative capital of the region and province Venice. This city is divided into two parts: the first (Mestre) is the mainland and the second is directly islands of Venice. The last ones are around 118. They are flooded each autumn by the sea waves.
This city has been formed in the heyday of the Venetian Republic in fourteenth-sixteenth centuries. Doge’s Palace reminds tourists about great Venice history. The whole population of mainland and island part is around 264 thousands of people. As we know, architectural image of the city belongs to the object list of UNESCO ("Venice - Lonely Planet"). The economic center of Venice is located on the mainland part. There are such economic objects as an international airport, seaport, oil refining and other plants in Venice also. This city is also well-known around the world by its annual carnival and film festival.
14) What is the boundary of the site, what defines the boundary?:
The city, Venice as a landscape has mainland and water borders. Venice is located around north coasts of the Adriatic Sea. In this case, the south boundaries of the landscape is directly sea, the west boundary is Laguna Veneta. The borders of the Mestre and Marghera limit landscape in the north (“Google Maps. Venice.”, 2016)
15) Form a hypothesis about the physical characteristics of your selected site:
I believe that modern Venice islands are a result of the geological processes and anthropogenic factor.
16) Form a hypothesis about the economic/political setting of your selected site:
I believe that favorable geographical location (Lido barrier held back the pirates, who swarmed the Adriatic Sea) was the main factor in establishing the whole state here that functioned more than eleven centuries.
17) Form a hypothesis about the social setting of your selected site:
I believe that the profession of gondoliers has been retained to the present day thanks to the esteem of the population of Venice their own traditions.
REFERENCES FOR INTRODUCTOR MODULE
"Googlemaps. Venice.". Google.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 May 2016.
Mann, T. "Sparknotes: Death In Venice". Sparknotes.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 May 2016.
McGarigal, K. What Is A Landscape?. 1st ed. UMass Amherst, 2016. Web. 19 May 2016.
National Geographic Society,. "Landscape". National Geographic Society. N.p., 2011. Web. 19 May 2016.
"Venice - Lonely Planet". Lonely Planet. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 May 2016.
