Geography: Types of Maps and Coordinates

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering types of maps, map scales, thematic maps, and lines of latitude and longitude from geography notes.

Statement Scale

A map scale stated in words, such as $1\text{ inch}$ of map equal $4\text{ miles}$.

Representative Fraction

A type of map scale expressed as a fraction or ratio, such as 1,250,000 or 250,000.

Physical Map

A map that shows physical features like mountains, plateaux, rivers, pales, and swamps.

Plateaux

A high piece of land that is flat on top.

Political Map

A map that shows countries, counties, states, and the boundaries separating them.

Thematic Map

A map that portrays the geographic pattern of a particular subject matter (theme) in a geographic area, displaying data ranging from high (larger numbers) to low (smaller numbers) using different colours or symbols.

Choropleth Map

A thematic map that represents data values in geographic areas with different colors and patterns, where data is categorized into classes with each assigned a unique color or pattern.

Dot Distributional Map

A map that shows how population, crops, livestock, etc. are distributed over a country or geographic area.

Climatic Map

A map that shows rainfall, temperature, and atmospheric pressure of an area over a period of time.

Flow Map

A map showing the movement of objects, people, or information between locations, such as migration patterns, trade routes, and transportation networks.

Geological Map

A map that shows the types of rocks in an area.

Contour Map

A map that shows the relief of the land using contour lines, which are imaginary lines.

Weather Map

A map of a region or country showing daily weather conditions, used for giving weather reports on the news at the local station.

Lines of Latitude

Lines that run west to east from $0^\circ$ to $90^\circ$ North or South, dividing the earth into different climate zones.

Lines of Longitude

Lines that run north to south from $0^\circ$ to $180^\circ$, dividing the earth into different time zones.

Parallels

Another name for lines of latitude.

Meridians

Another name for lines of longitude.

Equator

The major line of latitude numbered at $0^\circ$.

Arctic Circle

A major line of latitude located at $66.5^\circ\text{N}$.

Tropic of Cancer

A major line of latitude located at $23.5^\circ\text{N}$.

Tropic of Capricorn

A major line of latitude located at $23.5^\circ\text{S}$.

Antarctic Circle

A major line of latitude located at $66.5^\circ\text{S}$.

Prime Meridian

A major line of longitude numbered at $0^\circ$.

International Date Line

A major line of longitude numbered at $180^\circ$.