Geography Terms

Map Title

Tells you what the map is about.

Compass Rose

Show direction

Cardinal

N,E,S,W

Intermediate

Middle NE,SE,NW,SW

Scale

Measures distance

Legend/key

tells us what symbols mean

Inset map

Zooms out so you can see area around map

Degrees

Units of latitude or longitude

Equator

An imaginary line that runs east and west around the center of Earth at 0 degrees

meridians/lines of longitude

Imaginary lines on Earth that run between the North and South poles

Parallels/lines of latitude

imaginary lines on Earth that run east and west like the equator

Prime Meridian

An imaginary line that run from the North Pole to the S. Pole at 0 degrees

S. Pole

the point on Earth located at 90 degrees South

N. Pole

the point on Earth located at 90 degrees North

Cartographer

Mapmaker

Hemisphere

Half of the earth split by either the prime meridian or the equator

Northern Hemisphere

area North of equator that includes

Southern Hemisphere

The area south is south America, Africa, Australia,Arctic

Eastern Hemisphere

Area East from the prime meridian South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, Arctic

Western Hemisphere

Area West from prime meridian North America, South America, Africa

Geographic Grid

A pattern of lines that form squares

Index

An ABC listing of place names on a map and the grid squares in which they are found example: B6 or C7

Relative location

Where a place is located by comparing it to other landmarks, place, or areas around it

Absolute location

Uses latitude and longitude coordinates to determine the exact location of a place

Projection

A system for mapping the round earth on a flat surface.

Robinson Projection Map

Oval shaped projection that shows shape and size accurately but water and land near the poles is distorted.