Basic Geography

What is geography? Geography: the study of Earth’s surface and the processes that shape it, the connections between places, and the relationships between people and their environment We will be looking at the basics

Compass Rose

Legend (key)

Map Scale

Map

The Continents Seven Continents: North America South America Europe Asia Oceania (Australia) Africa Antarctica

The Seven Continents

The Oceans 4 Oceans (sometimes 5) Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Indian Ocean Arctic Ocean (The Southern Ocean)

The Oceans

The Hemispheres Northern Southern Eastern Western Equator: line of latitude that separates the Northern and Southern hemispheres Prime Meridian: line of longitude that separates the Eastern and Western hemispheres

The Hemispheres

Lines of Latitude Latitude is a way to measure the distance north or south of the Earth’s Equator. The lines of latitude are parallel to the Equator. The Equator is at 0 degrees latitude (0°). The North Pole is at 90 degrees north (90°N). The South Pole is at 90 degrees south (90°S). Lines of latitude can be called "parallels." as in "the 45th Parallel."

Lines of Latitude

Lines of Longitude Longitude is a way to measure the east-west distance on Earth. It is measured from zero longitude, also called the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian passes through the North Pole, the South Pole, and Greenwich, England. The other longitude lines are measured as being either east (E) or west (W) of the Prime Meridian. Lines of longitude can be called "meridians."

Lines of Longitude

North American Countries A country is within a continent North American Countries: 23 total U.S. Canada Mexico Bahamas Panama Cuba Jamaica

South American Countries South America: 12 countries Brazil Argentina Chile Peru Suriname Colombia

European Countries 48 countries United Kingdom Ireland Spain Germany England, Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland Ireland Spain Germany Italy Norway Croatia

Asian Countries 29 countries Russia China Japan Philippines Thailand Iraq Iran

African Countries 55 countries South Africa Egypt Sudan Algeria Liberia Somalia Zambia Kenya

Oceanic countries 16 countries Australia New Zealand Vanuatu Palau Fiji Samoa Independent state of Papua New Guinea