London's Five Themes

Location

London is a city located south of England, The United Kingdom. London’s geographic coordinates are 51.507 North and 0.1278 West.  It covers an area of 1,756 square kilometers. This city was built on the flood plain of River Thames which cuts London in half, creating northern and southern areas. Based on London being built on River Thames, it is lowland or flat. London is divided into five sub-regions: inner East and South, inner West, outer East and Northeast, outer West and Northwest, and outer South.  

Place

Physical characteristics

London is divided into two main zones; the highlands and lowlands. The highlands contain rough hills, valleys, rocky mountains, and plains.  The climate is on the cooler side which makes it unsuitable to farm. In the northern edge of the city there is a ridge that borders it that create a series of hills and in the southern part of London includes a separate ridge but with smaller formed hills. The lowlands of London is where most of the population is concentrated which includes slopes and warmer climate. An important factor to London’s physical characteristics is the River Thames. The river flows west to east across the London basin and is known to be the largest river in the area.  London also has many canals from the 18th century that helped transport goods.

Human or Cultural Characteristics

London is a major world city with a population of around nine million. It is a diverse place with 37% of Londoners being born outside of the UK, 40% of Londoners identifying as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic, and there are over 300 languages spoken.  London is known to be the center of cultural and creative productions such as film, fashion, design, and tech industries. Based on culture, London derives tourism which helps the economy and brings employment. Annually, London employs one in six people.  Based on 2011 data, 48.4% of Londoners are Christian, 12.39% consider themselves Muslim, 5% Hindu, 1.82% Jewish, 1.5% Sikh, 1% Buddhist and 0.6% Other. A large proportion, 20.73% of people, said that they had no religion.

Human- Environment Interaction

London is dependent on imports for food, manufactured goods, machinery, and fuels.  The city is also dependent on exports by selling and trading. They sell and trade nuclear reactors and parts, mineral fuels, cars, electrical machinery, pharmaceutical products, precious metals, plastics, aircraft and spacecraft parts. London has adapted into its environment by building various structures taking many portions of the land. In 2012, London had terrible pollution and since then has reduced it based on more bike transportation.

Movement

Transportation in London is one of the largest urban transport networks in the world.  London uses integrated bus, river, and road spanning the 32 boroughs. The London Underground is an underground rail network also known as “the Tube.”  London uses television, internet services, books, newspapers, and cellphones as a form of communicating with one another. Also, verbal communication is used and occasionally use mailing services.

Region

London is divided into five sub-regions: inner East and South, inner West, outer East and Northeast, outer West and Northwest, and outer South.  The sub-regions were created by merging borough boundaries. London is also sorted into zones. Zone one would be central London and the higher the zone number, the farther away it is from the center.  The zones are West London, East London, Southwest London, and Southeast London. West London is known for antique shops on almost every corner and vintage fashions. East London is known for its structures such as huge shopping malls, parks, and Olympic structures.  Southwest London is known for being the most expensive and being home to many museums and beautiful architecture. Southeast London is known for the borough market and its handcrafted goods as well as cafes.

Map of London

“Greater London Map: Detailed Maps for the City of Greater London.” ViaMichelin, www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Maps/Map-Greater_London-United_Kingdom.

River Thames

Frangoul, Phoebe. “10 Top Places to Visit along the Thames.” Traveller, CN Traveller, 8 Dec. 2017, www.cntraveller.com/gallery/top-destinations-thames-london.

Paris's Five Themes

Location

Paris is a major city located in Ile-de-France, France.  Paris’s coordinates are 48.85 North and 2.35 East. The city is on the river Seine in northern France.  Paris covers 105 square kilometers or 41 square miles of land. It is 280 miles by road southeast of London.  Paris has two islands, the Île Saint-Louis and the bigger Île de la Cité, which is known to be the oldest part of the city.  The river’s mouth of La Manche or the English Channel is estimated about 233 miles downstream from the city.

Place

Physical Characteristics

The islands of Paris, Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité facilitated river fords and bridges. The Paris Basin is a thick sediment area placed onto a continent under a shallow sea. The basin contains the River Seine water parting above and below the city of Paris and measures 310 miles east-west and 186 miles north-south. Across France, from April to August, weather conditions are usually warm with some rainfall and fall temperatures are a bit lower and the winter months remain mildly colder.

Human or Cultural Characteristics

Many well-known landmarks are in Paris, France.  These landmarks include, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre, Notre-Dame, the Pantheon, the Louvre, and the Palais des Invalides.  Paris’s population is around 2.2 million. The religion that is most dominant in Paris is Roman Catholicism, followed by Christianity. France has about 63-66% Christians, 23-28% non religious people, and 7-9% Muslims in the general population. Paris has more white collar jobs filled than blue collar and most employment are from private companies.  Paris also mostly speak French and usually do not like to speak English. Most people in Paris are either white or of European origin. Paris is also known for its culture of fashion and design.

Human- Environment Interaction

The Seine River is a source for humans depending on the environment.  The Seine River has helped as a source of water and trading. Humans adapted to the environment by creating paved roads and trying to maintain the land with usefulness to not get flooded by the Seine River.  Based on new technologies such as cars, humans have modified the environment and created air pollution. This pollution not only hurts the environment but can ultimately hurt humans as well.

Movement

Transportation in Paris is by car, bus/trolleybus, walking, subway or elevated, railroad, ferryboat, bicycle, motorcycle, and taxicab. The means of transport from home to work is mostly by car, followed by walking, and lastly taking the bus/trolleybus. Paris’s means of information is though television, newspaper, internet, books, and cellphone/telephone.  Communication can also be through verbally communicating with one another.

Region

Paris in the central position of the agricultural region known as the Paris Basin, and it composes one of eight departments of the Île-de-France administrative region. There are three main parts of historical Paris. The  three main parts are defined by the River Seine. At its center is the Île de la Cité, which is the most religious and temporal authority. The Seine’s Left Bank or Rive Gauche is known traditionally for its intellectual life. Its Right Bank known as Rive Droite contains most of the city’s economic life. Paris is formed around the Île de la Cité at the intersection of two big waterways. The north-south axis goes in between the hills of Montmartre and Belleville over the hillock of la Chapelle, the gateway to gares du Nord et de l'Est and the Saint-Martin canal.

Map of Paris

Paris Metro Map with Main Tourist Attractions, ontheworldmap.com/france/city/paris/paris-metro-map-with-main-tourist-attractions.html.

River Seine

“Paris Takes to Replace London As Banking Capital.” European Business Magazine, 4 Apr. 2019, europeanbusinessmagazine.com/finance/does-paris-have-it-what-it-takes-to-replace-london-as-banking-capital-of-europe/.

Museum in Paris

“Paris Hop On Hop Off Bus.” Paris by CIVITATIS, www.introducingparis.com/paris-museum-pass.

Comparisons of London and Paris

Location

London is a city located south of England, The United Kingdom while Paris is a major city located in Ile-de-France, France. Based on absolute location, Paris is 280 miles by road southeast of London.  

Place

Physical Characteristics

London’s most important factor of its physical characteristics is the River Thames. The river flows west to east across the London basin and is known to be the largest river in the area.  Such as London, Paris too has a basin containing the River Seine water parting above and below the city of Paris and measures 310 miles east-west and 186 miles north-south.

Human or Cultural Characteristics

Both Paris and London are known for their impact on fashion and design and contain a high reputation based on it.  London has more diversity than Paris but both lean more towards the same major religion. Both London and Paris have Christians/Catholics as their major religion.  

Human-Environment Interaction

London and Paris both depend on selling and trading.  Based on new technologies and modifying their environments, both have terrible air pollution that hurts both the environment and the humans living in those cities.  

Movement

Both cities are very similar when it comes to transportation.  Paris and London use busses, cars, railroads, and ferry boats. Based on transportation of information both use, television, newspaper, internet, books, and cellphone/telephone.  Communication can also be through verbally communicating with one another.

Region

Both cities aren’t similar when it comes to regions but what is similar is that both are divided in their own ways. London is divided into five sub-regions: inner East and South, inner West, outer East and Northeast, outer West and Northwest, and outer South.  The sub-regions were created by merging borough boundaries. Paris in the central position of the agricultural region known as the Paris Basin, and it composes one of eight departments of the Île-de-France administrative region. There are three main parts of historical Paris.

References

References

London:

“London.” World Cities Culture Forum, www.worldcitiescultureforum.com/cities/london.

“London's Geography and Population.” Trust for London, www.trustforlondon.org.uk/data/londons-geography/.

“Physical Geography.” London, bigben27london.weebly.com/physical-geography.html.

“Sub-Regions (London Plan Consultation 2009).” London Datastore News, data.london.gov.uk/dataset/sub-regions-london-plan-consultation-2009.

Visit London. “Transport in London.” Visitlondon.com, Visit London, 19 Oct. 2018, www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/getting-around-london/london-transport.

“Where Is London, England?” WorldAtlas, 2 Oct. 2015, www.worldatlas.com/eu/gb/eng/where-is-london.html.

Paris:

Kirchheimer, Sara. “Landforms in Paris.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 15 Jan. 2019, traveltips.usatoday.com/landforms-paris-59150.html.

“Paris Demographics.” Paris Demographics & Statistics - Employment, Education, Income Averages in Paris, www.point2homes.com/US/Neighborhood/IL/Paris-City-Demographics.html.

“Paris Hop On Hop Off Bus.” Paris by CIVITATIS, www.introducingparis.com/language.

“Where Is Paris, France?” WorldAtlas, 2 Oct. 2015, www.worldatlas.com/eu/fr/j/where-is-paris.html.

For More Information

www.paris-city.fr/GB/paris-city/geographie.php.

www.britannica.com/place/London.

traveltips.usatoday.com/landforms-paris-59150.html.

Similarities and Differences of London and Paris

London is a city found in England. Paris is a city in France. Both are the biggest cities in each of the countries they belong to and are one of the biggest cities in all of Europe. London has a population of 9 million and Paris has a population of 10.9 million. Weather in London tend to be sunny and are the warmest in the summer compared to other places in Europe.  Weather in Paris also tend to be usually sunny and in the high 70's.  They both have similar weather with low amount of rain and usual amounts of sun.

Paris is located 48.85 latitude and 2.35 longitude and is elevated 42 meters above sea level.  London is located 51.51 latitude and -0.13 longitude and is elevated 25 meters above sea level. The air travel distance between London and Paris is 214 miles. Both London and Paris are known for their multiculturalism, high living standards, and successful economies. London and Paris have similar cultures in regards to fashion.  Both are part of the four "Fashion Capitals" in the 20th century.




References:

London:
https://www.worldatlas.com/eu/gb/eng/where-is-london.html
https://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/england/ukeweather.htm

Both London and Paris:
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/largest-cities-in-europe-by-population.html
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-fashion-week.html
https://www.distancefromto.net/distance-from-paris-fr-to-london-gb

Paris:
https://www.worldatlas.com/eu/fr/j/where-is-paris.html
https://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/france/frweather.html

Map of Paris

Retrieved from: https://www.worldatlas.com/eu/fr/j/where-is-paris.html