1. Geography of the Americas

2. Section 2
Tools of Geography

3. Globes Only accurate way to draw the earth. Behaim’s Globe
1492 German cartographer
First round map of the world

5. Latitude and Longitude
Each line measured in degrees (°) and minutes (´)
Latitude
Also known as parallels
90°N farthest North and 90°S is farthest south
Equator
Longitude
Also known as meridians
Prime Meridian 0°
International Date Line 180°

6. D. Grid System Coordinates Examples:
A location’s degrees of latitude and longitude
Gives the Absolute Location
Example: Coordinates of Philadelphia are 40°N and 75°W
Examples:

7. E. Hemispheres and Continents
Earth sliced at the Equator and the Prime Meridian.

8. Continents

9. North America

10. South America

11. Africa

12. Europe

13. Asia

14. Australia

15. Antarctica

16. Continents – North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica
Map Projections
Maps are flat drawings of the earth’s surface and can take different forms, or projections.
Mercator projection – shows land shapes accurately, but not sizes or distances.
Interrupted Projection – shows Mercator’s world as a cut-up sphere. Size more accurate, but hard to measure distances.

19. D. Robinson Projection – most commonly
D. Robinson Projection – most commonly used, some distortion on northern and southern tips.

20. E. LANDSAT – created by photographic satellites

21. Types of Maps
General-purpose – show wide range of general information about an area.
Physical maps – show natural features such as rivers and mountains
Political maps – show places people have created such as cities or boundaries of states and nations
Special-purpose maps – who information on specific topics such as land use, climate, or vegetation

22. Assignment: Discuss one advantage and one disadvantage of maps AND one advantage and one disadvantage of globes.
Use paragraphs and complete sentences.
Minimum ½ page.