Intro vocab 7th grade geography

absolute location

The exact point where a place is located on the Earth's surface, defined by coordinates such as latitude and longitude.

birth rate

The number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year in a specific population.

climate

The long-term average of weather conditions in a particular area, including temperature, precipitation, and seasonal variations.

compass rose

A figure on a map that shows the cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) and often the intermediate directions.

culture

The shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a specific group of people, including language, religion, art, and customs. “way of life”

cultural diffusion

The process by which cultural beliefs and social activities spread from one group to another, often through migration, trade, or communication. Spread of culture

death rate

The measure of the number of deaths in a population, typically expressed per 1,000 individuals per year. It reflects the health and living conditions of a population.

emigrate

To leave one's country to settle in another.

equator

An imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, located at 0 degrees latitude.

export

The act of selling goods or services produced in one country to another country.

famine

A severe shortage of food resulting in hunger and malnutrition, often caused by crop failure, natural disasters, or economic instability.

hemisphere

Half of the Earth, either the Northern or Southern, divided by the equator or Prime Meridian.

import

The act of bringing goods or services into one country from another, typically for trade.

international date line

An imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, located at approximately 180 degrees longitude, where the date changes by one day when crossed.

latitude

The measurement that indicates the distance north or south of the equator, expressed in degrees.

longitude

The measurement that indicates the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, expressed in degrees.

map

A flat representation of an area, showing geographic features, regions, and political boundaries.

map distortion

Because it is impossible to accurately make a round object flat, cartographers use….

map key

a guide that explains the symbols and colors used on a map.

map projection

Different ways of expressing size and shape of objects on a map to account for map distortion

map scale

a ratio or proportion that indicates the relationship between distance on the map and actual distance on the ground.

natural resource

Materials or substances such as water, minerals, and forests that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.

nonrenewable resource

A natural resource that cannot be replenished over a human timescale, such as fossil fuels and minerals.

physical map

A type of map that uses physical features such as terrain, elevation, and landforms to represent an area.

political map

A type of map that shows governmental boundaries, cities, and significant infrastructures within an area.

poles

The regions at the Earth's extreme north and south, known as the North Pole and South Pole, characterized by extreme cold and ice.

prime meridian

The line of longitude at 0 degrees, serving as the starting point for measuring latitude and longitude.

refugee

A person who is forced to flee their country due to war, persecution, or natural disaster, seeking protection in another country.

relative location

The position of a place or entity based on its location relative to other locations, often described in terms such as nearby landmarks or distances.

renewable resource

A natural resource that can be replenished naturally over time, such as solar energy, wind energy, and timber.

rural

Related to the countryside or outside urban areas, often characterized by open space and agricultural land.

special purpose map

A type of map designed to show a specific theme or subject, such as climate, population density, or land use.

time zones

Regions of the Earth that have the same standard time, defined by longitudinal divisions.

tropics

The region of the Earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, characterized by warm temperatures year-round