Common Features of a Map WG.1ab

Globe A scale model of the Earth

Absolute Location The exact spot on Earth where something is found, often stated in latitude and longitude.

Relative Location The position of a place in relation to other places.

Latitude A measure of distance North or South of equator.

Equator The imaginary line of latitude that lies halfway between the North and South poles and circles the globe.

Longitude A measure of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian

Prime Meridian The imaginary line of longitude that runs through Greenwich, England, from the North Pole to the South Pole. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmJ0vq3DdHk

Hemisphere Half of the earth, such as the Northern or Southern hemispheres or the Eastern or Western hemispheres.

Map Projection Map projections are the means by which the curved surface of the earth is transferred to the flat surface of a map. Mercator Polar Robinson

Map Distortion Because the earth is a sphere, a globe is its only perfect model. A globe simultaneously shows accurate shapes, sizes, distances, and directions. No world map can show all four of these properties accurately. Every world map distorts at least one of them.

Mercator The Mercator shows true shapes, but distorts sizes. The poles are shown not as points, but as lines the same length as the Equator. The result is extreme size distortion in the higher latitudes. It was designed for navigation.

Mercator

Polar The Polar projection is designed from a plane touching the globe at one point, such as at the North Pole or South Pole. It is useful for showing true direction for airplane pilots and ship navigators. It also shows true area, but it distorts shape.

Polar

Polar

Robinson The Robinson is a compromise projection, that is, it allows some size distortions in order to portray shapes more accurately. Because it presents a reasonable overall picture of the world, it is often used for educational material.

Robinson

Robinson

Title Tells you what information you are looking at on the map.

Compass Rose Shows which directions are north, south, east and west. It has arrows that point to some or all four principal directions.

Legend or Key Explains what the symbols and colors mean on a map.

Scale Represents distances between points on a map. Distances can be in miles or kilometers.