Unit 1 Vocabulary

Imaginary lines that run east to west around the globe. Also called parallels. Measured in degrees N or S Latitude

Longitude Imaginary lines that go from the North Pole to the South Pole. Also called meridians Measured in degrees east or west

Location Absolute  The exact location of a place.  Measured in latitude/longitude  Ex. Altona Middle School  40° N, 105°W Relative  A description of a place in relation to places around it.  Ex. Altona is near the mts. Altona is in western Longmont

The Compass Rose & the Cardinal Directions

Map Scale: Size of the map compared to the size of the actual land surface.

City: a center of population, culture and commerce

River: A large natural stream of water running through land. Tributary: A small river that flows into a larger river

Plains: area of level land, usually at low elevation, often covered with grass

Lake: a large, inland body of water Pond: small, inland body of water

Peninsula: body of land jutting into a lake or ocean, surrounded on three sides Cape: a narrow, point of land that extends into a river, lake or ocean.

Island: land area, smaller than a continent, surrounded by water on all sides Isle: a small island

Inlet: a recessed body of water along a coast Bay: part of a large body of water that extends into a shoreline, smaller than a gulf

Strait: Narrow stretch of water joining two larger bodies of water Sound: inland body of water often between coastline and land

Mountain range Desert

A narrow stretch of land connecting two larger land areas isthmus

Gulf: part of a large body of water that extends into a shoreline, larger and deeper than a harbor or bay Harbor: a sheltered body of water along a shoreline where ships can anchor safely