Understanding the Physical World Chapter 1 Section 2 Understanding the Physical World

5 Things that make a map a good map Title- Title of Map Legend- tells what is on the map Compass- tells you which way north is Grid- Grid of Latitudes and Longitudes on the map so you can find absolute location Scale- gives you the scale for distance, example: an inch = 50 miles or cm = 80 km

Map Projections Mercator Projection- gives an accurate view of land areas near the Equator, but it distorts the size and shape of lands near the North and South Poles. For example: Greenland is not bigger than South America

Map Projections Interrupted Projection Shows the correct size of landmasses by cutting out large portions of the oceans It is near impossible to make accurate measurements of distance or to plot a course across the ocean

Map Projections Peters Projection Shows the correct areas of land masses and oceans Directions are still accurate South America and Africa are distorted to being larger than they really are

Map Projections Robinson Projection- Shows the correct sizes and shapes of most landmasses Fairly accurate in the sizes of the oceans and distances across land Distorts regions along the edges of the map

Globe Map on the face of a sphere The most accurate portrait of earth

Types of Maps Political Map- Shows political borders, main cities Physical Map- Shows landforms, terrain, major bodies of water, etc… Natural Resources Map- shows where coal, uranium, oil, and other important resources can be found Climate Map- shows the climate types of regions Vegetation Map- shows what type of vegetation or wooded area grows in a region Economic-Land Use Map- shows economic data and data about how land is used Road Atlas- Shows interstates, highways, and roads

Political Map

Physical Map

Natural Resources Map

Climate Map

Vegetation Map

Economic Land-Use Map

Road Atlas

Major Landforms Mountains- high, steep, rugged land that rises above the surrounding land Vary in elevation, but all mountains are at least 2,000 feet high Hills- areas of raised land, but they are lower and less steep than mountains Plains- large areas of fairly level or gently rolling land Low in elevation Plateaus- large areas of high, flat or gently rolling land

Mountains

Hills

Plains

Plateaus