Introduction to Geography

What is a Map? What do maps tell us? A map is a drawn or printed representation of the earth. Maps provide information through lines, colors, shapes, and symbols. The symbols represent features such as rivers, lakes, roads, and cities. Maps help us locate places, measure distances, plan trips, and find our way. Maps are used to navigate. They provide us with information about a place, such as climate, population, and transportation. Maps also show patterns of where and how people live. A Cartographer is a map maker.

4 Different Types of Maps Road Map: is a map that shows the roads and transportation on roads in a particular area. Physical Map: is a map that shows naturally made landmarks such as rivers, lake, and mountains. Political Maps: are maps that show the boundaries of countries, states, and counties. They show the location of major cities. Weather Maps: are maps that show the weather conditions such as temperature, rain, and snow.

Cardinal Directions, Map Symbols, & Map Scale Compass Rose: is a symbol found on a map which shows the cardinal directions. Cardinal Directions: are the directions that are used to move in a certain direction on a map. They are: North (N), South (S), East (E), and West (W). The intermediate directions are: Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW). Map Symbols: One way to show features on a map is to create symbols that represent them. A symbol is a shape or pattern that represents an object. Symbols and their meanings are shown on a key or legend on the map. Map Scale: shows the relationship between distances on the map and the distance. It is shown on a scale which is usually measured with a ruler.

Lines of Latitude and Lines of Longitude Lines of Longitude: are imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. Lines of Longitude are measured in degrees. The Prime Meridian: circles the globe from North and South at zero degree. Lines of Latitude: are imaginary east-west lines that circle the Earth and are parallel to the equator. These lines are measured in degrees. Latitude increases as you travel north or south of the equator.

VOCABULARY Landforms: a natural feature of the earth’s surface. Desert: a large, dry region, usually having sandy or rocky soil and little or no vegetation. Hills: a naturally raised area of land, not as high or craggy as a mountain. Island: a piece of land surrounded by water. Lake: a large body of water surrounded by land. Mountains: a large natural elevation of the earth’s surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level.

Plains: a large area of flat land with few trees (grassland, prairie). Plateau: a large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it. Valley: a low area of land between hills or mountains typically with a river or stream flowing through it. River: a river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake, or another river. Peninsula: a piece of land extending into the sea almost completely surrounded by water. Canal: a narrow, man-made waterway used for ships and irrigation.