1. Direction, Scale, Elevation and Relief
Map Features
Direction, Scale, Elevation and Relief

2. Direction We show direction on a map using a compass rose
A compass rose has
cardinal directions and intermediate directions. 7 1 6 2
Can you identify the missing directional points? 5 3 4

3. Relative vs. Absolute Relative Location
Where a place is based on another place
Arlington is North West of Boston
Absolute Location
Where a place is based on its coordinates.
Arlington is at 42° 24’ 55” N
71° 9’ 25” W

4. Hemisphere

5. Latitude Circles around the Earth Measured in degrees from the equator
Labeled: North or South
Indicates climate
Angle of the north star is the degree of latitude

6. Longitude Runs from the North Pole to the South Pole
Measured in degrees from the Prime Meridian
Labeled: East or West
Indicates time Zones
 (360°/24 hours = 15°/hour).
Lunar Distance Method – Johannes Werner suggested mapping the path of moon against the stars as a means to identify longitude. “compare the time you observed the moon near a given star with the time the same thing was suppose to occur in the sky over another reference location. – then find the difference in hours between the two then multiple by 15 degrees” (Sobel 23) still would need more math to determine minutes and seconds….. The “clocks” were on avg 15 min off daily.
Digby’s Powder (Sympathy Solution) 1687 – “Healing across the distances” The solution would could be applied to a bandage of a person from a distance and heal them. “Send aboard a wounded dog...leave ashore a trusted individual to dip the dog’s bandage into the sympathy solution everyday at noon.” (Sobel 42) the dog would yelp in pain and the captain would know its noon in London
Sound and Visual Solution – 1713 William Whiston and Humphery Ditton suggested using canons in flixed locations across the ocean to identify latitude. Like thunder and lighting to estimate distance from a storm.(Sobel 48)
Longitude Act – July 8, 1714 –Kings ransom for a method to determine longitude to the half of a degree. (Sobel 53)
The Sea Watch – 1773 –John Harrison the h-4 off by 24 seconds over a course of 9 days.

7. Time Zones
International Date Line: Imaginary line of longitude located at 180° east
(or west) of the Prime Meridian.
Time Zones
Identified in roughly 15° sections
As you move east from the Prime Meridian add an hour. west - subtract an hour.
“Local time”
Railroads (1883)
360 / 15 = 24
Each Degree = 60 mi. longitude

8. Scale The relationship between distances on the map and on Earth
It can be shown in different ways:
Ratio 1:200
Fraction 1/200
Written out 1 in. equals 200 miles

9. Scale Bar
It tells how a measured space on a map corresponds to actual distances on Earth.

10. Large Scale Small Scale
Shows less detail of a larger area.
Objects appear smaller
ie: an inch on the map might represent 1,000 miles on the ground
Shows more detail of a smaller area.
Objects appear larger
ie: an inch on the map might represent 10 miles on the ground
When might you want to use a large scale map? A small scale map?

11. Elevation How far above or below sea level a feature is.
What type of map would you see this on?

12. Relief
The distance between the elevation of one feature and the elevation of another feature near it.
Located on physical maps
This is a relative number, it depends on other landforms that are nearby