The concept of region classification has evolved through two distinct phases reflecting the economic

advance from a simple agrarian economy to a complex industrial system. Regions have been classified in
different ways as shown below :-

A. CLASSIFICATION OF REGION BASED INTO FORMAL AND FUNCTIONAL REGIONS.

1. FORMAL REGIONS.

A formal region is a geographical area which is uniform or homogeneous in terms of selected criteria. In
the earlier definitions of formal regions, the criteria were mostly physical like topography, climate,
natural vegetation. The formal region have been divided into other three forms as elaborated below;

(a). Natural regions.

Natural regions are the ones that exist naturally on the geographical space. And the interest in this form
of regionalisation was partly due to the fact that physical factors are more stable than dynamic
economic factors and partly from the influence of Darwin's theory of evolution. As known that the world
has been divided into a number of natural regions such as equatorial, temperate, tundra, desert and
savannah regions.

A photo showing a desert region.

(b). Economic region.

Economic formal regions were initially based on types of industry or agriculture, but the scope of
economic regionalisation expanded to the use of other criteria like income level, rate of unemployment
and rate of economic growth. An important change in the scheme of regionalisation was an increasing
emphasis on multiple criteria regionalisation rather than single criterion regionalisation.

A picture showing economic region;

Social formal regions typically refer to geographic areas characterized by distinct social, cultural,
economic, or demographic features. Social regions can vary in size and scope, ranging from
neighborhoods within a city to entire countries or continents. They play a significant role in shaping
identities, behaviors, and interactions among inhabitants.

2. FUNCTIONAL REGIONS.

The functional region has also been referred to as the nodal region consisting of heterogeneous units
such as cities, towns and villages which are functionally interrelated. The concept of functional regions
brings into focus the importance of different types of linkages or interconnections between places and
areas for the functioning of those spatial units as human habitats. The functional region have been
classified into four parts as explained below;

(a). Commodity regions.

A commodity region is a geographical area known for the production of a specific commodity or
resource. These regions often have natural advantages such as climate, soil quality, or mineral deposits
that make them well suited for the cultivation or extraction of particular goods. Example Saudi Arabia
known for its vast oil reserves, In Tanzania, Manyara Region known for its Bananas production.

A picture showing banana plantation in Manyara region;

Human region refers to a geographic area inhabited predominantly by human beings. It can vary in size
and scope, ranging from a local community or neighborhood to a larger city, country, or even a
continent. Human region has divided into Migrants and Commuters. One example of a human region in
Tanzania is Dar es Salaam, It is a major port and serves as the main transportation and commercial
center and is a bustling metropolis with a population of over 6 million.

A photo showing human habitant area ;

(c). Information region.

Refer to a geographical area known for its information related activities or an area within a system
where data or knowledge is stored or processed. Example of an information region in Tanzania is
Arusha, known for its concentration of international organizations, including the East African Community
headquarters and various United Nations agencies.

A picture showing Information system in Arusha region;

(d). Capital regions.

The capital region is a vital part of a country or region, representing its governance, culture, and identity
while also playing a crucial role in shaping its development and growth. In Tanzania, the capital city is
Dodoma. Dodoma, Dar es Salaam Region, Arusha Region - Known for its Serengeti National Park and
Kilimanjaro Region the home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.

A picture of Arusha region showing a National park as a source of capita;

B. CLASSIFICATION OF REGION BASED INTO PURPOSE.

Geographical Regions classified based on physical geography features such as climate, terrain, and
natural resources. Examples include coastal regions, mountainous regions, plains, and deserts. Planning
in these regions focuses on leveraging or mitigating the impacts of their natural characteristics.

A map showing coastal regions;

2. LIMITED PURPOSE.

These regions are specific areas or zones that are designated for particular purposes or activities, often
with unique regulations, restrictions, or characteristics. Such regions are typically defined to serve
specific functions or objectives. Example of this limited purpose are such as Geological purpose,
Vegetation purpose, Soil purpose, Agrarian purpose, Railway zone purpose, Power and Administrative
purpose. Other single purpose regions have been identified for various purposes like the Geological
Divisions made by the Geological Survey of India, Vegetation Regions attempted by Champion and Soil
Regions by SP Ray Chaudhuri. While these indicate the use of physical characteristics as the delineating
criteria, other schemes have also been evolved on the basis of production characteristics of both
agriculture and industry.

Below is a picture showing mineral exploration region:-

3. RESOURCES REGION

Resources region could refer to a geographic area or a specific region that is known for its abundance or
significant presence of natural resources. Natural resources can include things like minerals, forests,
water, arable land, oil, natural gas, and various other resources that are valuable for economic
development and human well being. Different regions around the world are known for their specific
natural resources. For example, the Middle East is known for its oil reserves, the Amazon Rainforest
region is known for its biodiversity and natural resources, and regions like the Great Plains in the United
States are known for their fertile soil and agricultural resources.

Below is a picture showing forest resource Region:-

Below is the Schematic Diagram of Classification of Regions based on Purpose:-