Introductory Human Geography Terms and Map Concepts

Fill-in-the-blank practice flashcards covering basic geography definitions, map projections, data types, and regional concepts.

Directions based on the points of a compass or the Earth’s coordinate system are known as __________.

Absolute Direction

__________ is defined as the distance between two points, communicated using precise quantitative units of measurement.

Absolute Distance

The precise place where something can be found, often described using latitude and longitude coordinates, is called __________.

Absolute Location

Maps where the size of places are distorted in order to represent some specific statistic are called __________.

Cartograms

__________ is defined as the art and science of mapmaking - representing a geographic area on a flat surface.

Cartography

Maps that use various colors, shades, or patterns to show the location and distribution of spatial data are __________.

Choropleth Maps

A descriptor for when there is a high level of density and a low level of distribution of data is __________.

Clustered

A map projection used primarily for regional mapping where size and shape are preserved but direction is distorted due to latitude lines converging at only one pole is a __________.

Conic Projection

__________ is defined as how often or how much something occurs within a space (often described as high or low).

Density

A descriptor for when there is a low level of density due to a high level of distribution is __________.

Dispersed

The theory that the interaction between two places decreases as the distance between them increases is known as __________.

Distance Decay

__________ refers to how a feature or phenomenon on a map is arranged or spread out.

Distribution

Maps that show the location and distribution of something using dots, where each dot represents a specific quantity, are __________.

Dot Distribution Maps

The theory that human behaviors and culture are a direct result of the surrounding environment is __________.

Environmental Determinism

An area defined by official boundaries, created on the basis of one or more shared characteristics, is a __________.

Formal Region

An area organized around a node or focal point and defined by an activity that occurs across the region is a __________.

Functional Region

A computer system that captures, stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data is a __________.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

The spread of people, businesses, products, and ideas around the world, leading to greater economic and social integration, is known as __________.

Globalization

The system that determines the precise location of something on Earth using satellites and receivers is the __________.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Maps that use symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something are __________.

Graduated Symbol Maps

An area that surrounds an urban center or port that supplies it with goods and resources and depends on it for economic and social services is a __________.

Hinterland

__________ is the study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of the Earth and its resources.

Human Geography

Maps that use lines that connect at points of equal distance to depict variations in data are __________.

Isoline Maps

The distance of a place north or south of the Equator is defined as __________.

Latitude

Types of information displayed in a map (countries, bodies of water, buildings, mountains, etc.) are called __________.

Layers

Small, simple maps used in books and advertising to show specific locations mentioned in the text are __________.

Locator Maps

The distance of a place east or west of the Prime Meridian is defined as __________.

Longitude

An inset on a map that explains what the colors or symbols used in it mean and what the scale of the map is is a __________.

Map Key/ Legend

The depiction of the round surface of the Earth on a flat map is a __________.

Map Projection

The ratio between the size of things in the real world and the size of things on a map is the __________.

Map Scale

Maps that people create in their own minds based on their experiences and knowledge are called __________.

Mental Maps

A map projection used primarily for navigation that accurately depicts direction and the shape of land masses near the Equator is the __________.

Mercator Projection

A map projection that depicts the size of land masses accurately and is used for illustrating spatial distribution is the __________.

Peters Projection

Maps that show natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts, are __________.

Physical Maps

Maps that show property lines and details of land ownership are __________.

Plat Maps

Maps that show human-created boundaries and designations like countries, states, cities, and capitals are __________.

Political Maps

The theory that the environmental conditions of a place can limit its culture but that culture is primarily determined by social conditions is __________.

Possibilism

Humanistic data that is not represented as statistics and is collected using methods such as interviews, surveys, or observation is __________.

Qualitative Data

Data associated with statistical techniques and mathematical models that can be quantified in numbers is __________.

Quantitative Data

Maps that people can refer to for general information about places are called __________.

Reference Maps

An area defined by one or more traits, characteristics, or features that make it different from surrounding areas is a __________.

Region

Direction based on a person’s surroundings and perception is __________.

Relative Direction

Distance measured using metrics like time, effort, or cost is __________.

Relative Distance

The description of where something is in relation to something else is __________.

Relative Location

The process of capturing images of Earth’s surface from the air, using things like satellites or planes, is called __________.

Remote Sensing

Maps that show highways, streets, and alleys are __________.

Road Maps

A map projection most commonly used for education or display purposes that has no glaring distortion is the __________.

Robinson Projection

The level at which data in a map is displayed is the __________.

Scale of Analysis

The emotions someone attaches to a place based on their experiences is described as a __________.

Sense of Place

The physical character of a place, given by a combination of features like climate, water sources, vegetation, and elevation, is its __________.

Site

Where something is located relative to its surrounding features is defined as its __________.

Situation

Using the Earth’s resources in ways that ensure their availability for future generations to use is __________.

Sustainability

Maps that show spatial aspects of information or a type of phenomenon are __________.

Thematic Maps

The reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place, as the result of improved communication and transportation technologies, is __________.

Time-Space Compression

The name given to a place on Earth is a __________.

Toponym

An area that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity, where boundaries vary widely, is a __________.

Vernacular Region