Map Skills Map Skills

Geographer’s Basics Title – usually tells what the map is about Compass Rose – symbol that gives the directions of North, South, East, and West. Legend – (notice all symbols, colors, etc) Lines of Latitude and Longitude Scale

More on Scale Scale refers to the how much area is shown on a map Small Scale means a large amount of area is shown with very little detail, Example – A map of the whole world. Large Scale means a small amount of area is shown. Ex.- a street map of downtown Houston, shows all of the streets. This map is only helpful if you are traveling in downtown Houston.

Lines of Latitude and Longitude Lines of latitude are the imaginary lines that measure distances north or south of the Equator. Lines of longitude are the imaginary lines that measure distances east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Globe, is a type of Map Advantages: Directions—True Distances—True Shapes—True Areas—True Disadvantages: Even the largest globe has a very small scale* and shows relatively little detail. Costly to reproduce and update. Difficult to carry around. Bulky to store.

Map Projections Map projections are representations of a curved earth on a flat map surface. The three basic types of map projections are azimuthal, conical, and cylindrical. With azimuthal & conical you generally can only show parts of the earth such as one or two continents. With a cylindrical projection you can show the whole earth but with some distortions.

“Types of Maps” Four main types (not projections). Physical – Shows landforms/bodies of water or physical features. Political – Shows features humans created, such as cities, territories, or countries. The borders are usually shown. Thematic – usually has a specific theme, location of oil and natural gas deposits in the world Flow Line – illustrate movement of people, goods, ideas, animals, etc…

Thematic Maps Qualitative: –Use colors or patterns to show a specific idea Cartograms: –Use size to show a specific idea – size of countries is not true to actual size, but represents specific data Flow-line maps: –Illustrate movement, usually shown in a series of arrows

Absolute and Relative Location Absolute Location- the exact place on earth where a geographic feature is foundAbsolute Location- the exact place on earth where a geographic feature is found Uses Latitude and Longitude, specific, exact directionsUses Latitude and Longitude, specific, exact directions Relative Location- describes a place in relation to other places around it.Relative Location- describes a place in relation to other places around it. Uses words like near, close to, next to, etc.Uses words like near, close to, next to, etc.

Austin, Texas example Absolute Location: ° N Latitude, ° W Longitude Relative Location: Central Texas, North of San Antonio, South of Waco