Continents, Oceans, and Map Reading Geography Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering basic map-reading concepts, cartography terms, and facts about the 7 continents and 5 oceans based on class study guides.

Continent

A large continuous mass of land.

Asia

The largest continent by area (~17.2 million sq mi / 44.6 million km²) and population (~60%), featuring Mount Everest, the Dead Sea, and the two most populous countries, India and China.

Africa

The second-largest continent, often called the 'Cradle of Humankind,' containing 54 countries, the Nile River, and the Sahara Desert.

North America

The third-largest continent by area, containing the world's longest land border between Canada and the United States, with Denali as its highest peak.

South America

The fourth-largest continent, connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama, featuring the Amazon Rainforest, Andes Mountains, and Atacama Desert.

Antarctica

The fifth-largest continent, covered about 98% by ice with 0 permanent residents, governed by the Antarctic Treaty System, and holding about 70% of the world's fresh water.

Europe

The sixth-largest continent, conventionally separated from Asia by the Ural Mountains, containing Vatican City as the smallest country, and known as the birthplace of Western civilization.

Australia / Oceania

The smallest continent by area (#7), which is both a country and continent, home to unique marsupial wildlife and the Great Barrier Reef.

Pacific Ocean

The largest and deepest ocean, covering about one-third of Earth's surface, featuring the Mariana Trench (~36,070 ft / 10,994 m) and the Ring of Fire.

Atlantic Ocean

The second-largest ocean, separating the Americas from Europe and Africa, containing the Gulf Stream current and Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Indian Ocean

The third-largest ocean, bounded by Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Southern Ocean, which drives South Asia's monsoon weather system.

Southern Ocean

The fourth-largest ocean, encircling Antarctica and defined by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current; recognized around the year 2000.

Arctic Ocean

The smallest and shallowest ocean, located around the North Pole and mostly covered by sea ice.

Cartography

The study of maps.

Cartographer

A person who creates maps.

Legend (Key)

A box that defines the symbols or keys used on a map.

Compass Rose

A map element showing direction using arrows.

Scale

A map element that measures distance and tells you how to read distances on a map.

Political Map

A type of map that shows political boundaries such as countries, cities, and capitals.

Physical Map

A type of map that shows natural features such as mountains, rivers, and other landforms.

Cardinal Directions

The four main directions: North, East, South, and West (remembered by the trick 'Never Eat Sour Waffles').

Intermediate Directions

Directions that fall between cardinal directions: Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), Southwest (SW), and Northwest (NW).

Large Scale Map

A zoomed-in map that shows greater detail over a smaller area.

Small Scale Map

A zoomed-out map that shows less detail over a larger area.

Absolute Location

Exact location pinpointed on Earth, usually using latitude and longitude coordinates.

Relative Location

General location described by a place's proximity to well-known landmarks.

Latitude

Lines (also called parallels) measuring distance north and south of the Equator, ranging from $0^\text{o}$ at the Equator to $90^\text{o}$ North and South at the poles.

Longitude

Lines (also called meridians) measuring distance east and west of the Prime Meridian, ranging from $0^\text{o}$ to $180^\text{o}$ East and West.

Equator

The line at $0^\text{o}$ latitude that divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Prime Meridian

The line at $0^\text{o}$ longitude (also called the Greenwich Line) running through Greenwich, England, dividing the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

International Date Line

A line located at roughly $180^\text{o}$ longitude where the calendar day changes at midnight.

Coordinates

A set of numbers combining latitude and longitude to provide absolute location.

Hemisphere

Half of the Earth, divided into Northern, Southern, Eastern, or Western halves.