Maps and Map Skills

Kinds of Maps General Reference Maps Provide the reader general information about an area or place. Thematic Maps Provide more specific information about an area or place than general reference maps.

General reference

Thematic Map

Reading Maps Map Parts Title Legend or Key Grid System Direction Scale Map orientation – This has to do with direction

Compass Title Scale

Large Scale and Small Scale Maps A large-scale map shows a small area such as a neighborhood street in great detail. A small-scale map shows a large area such as a country or a continent in comparatively lesser detail. Small Area = Large Scale Large Area = Small Scale

Small Area = Large Scale Large Area = Small Scale

Compass Is used to orient a map toward north

Latitude The set of lines crossing the Earth’s surface horizontally, Circling east and west. Each line of latitude is always an equal distance from the next. They are also known as parallels. All latitude lines are parallel to each other. Zero degree latitude is called the equator

Longitude A set of lines that run vertically along Earth’s surface from the North Pole to the South Pole Zero degree longitude is called the Prime Meridian

Lines of longitude are numbered based on how far east or west they are from another imaginary line. This line is called the Prime Meridian. Prime Meridian’s longitude degree is 00.

Prime Meridian & International Date Line The prime meridian does not circle the globe as the equator does. The PM runs from the NP to SP At 1800 on the other side of the globe the meridian is called the international date line.

Grid System

Global Grid When lines of latitude and longitude cross a grid is formed. The grid is used to located certain places on earth

Using Latitude & Longitude to Locate Places Lines of latitude are numbered based on how far north or south they are from an imaginary line called the equator This line circles the Earth exactly halfway between the NP and SP. The equator’s latitude degree is 00. There are 90 degrees between it and each of the poles. Area between the equator and NP is “north” latitude (220N) Area between the equator and SP is “south” latitude (220S)

Hemispheres The earth can be divided into halves. Each of these halves is called a hemisphere.

Hemispheres at the Equator The ½ north of the equator is called the northern hemisphere The ½ south of the equator is called the southern hemisphere

Hemispheres at Prime Meridian and International Date Line Earth can also be divided into hemispheres at the circle formed by the prime meridian and International date line The ½ east of the prime meridian is called the eastern hemisphere. The ½ west of the prime meridian is called the western hemisphere.

Maps are important tools for geographers. A globe is a better model of Earth than a map, but a globe has disadvantages that a map does not have

Problem of Distortion Features are stretched to put Earth’s information onto a map.

Points to Remember The projection one chooses to use depends on the information one wants. All Maps are projections – they transfer Earth’s features from the globe to a flat surface (map). When large areas of Earth are mapped, distortion is more serious. When mapping small areas like cities, distortion is not usually evident.