1. CGC1D Unit 1: Mapping and Earth Systems
Topic 1 : Defining Geography and Map Essentials

2. Map Essentials Title: indicates what the map represents
Legend: indicates the meaning of symbols used to represent real-world features (e.g. cities, boundaries, rivers, train tracks,etc)
Scale: indicates the difference between distances on the map and distances in the real world.

3. Map Essentials Direction: (compass rose or north arrow)
Orientation on a map is very important. The cardinal points (North, South, East, West) are used to indicate direction to the map reader.
Border: sets the limits of the map.
Color: used to represent certain features (esp. water is always BLUE)

4. Map Essentials Horizontal Labels: to make the map easy-to-read.
Name of Cartographer: that’s you!
(take credit when its due.)
Date: (of Publication)

5. Defining Geography
The academic discipline that examines variations on the Earth’s surface. Geographers attempt to explain the diverse characteristics of the Earth’s landscape; exploring topics such as population distribution, earth processes (e.g. earthquakes), the atmosphere and oceans, and international issues.
Geography is divided into two main categories:
Physical Geography and Human Geography

6. Physical Geography
The study of non-human processes relating to the earth.

7. Human Geography
The study of the distribution and organization of humans, and the human use of resources.

8. Physical Geography Examples:
e.g. Glaciation (glaciers), Tectonism (movement of the earth’s continents), Vegetation patterns, Volcanism (volcanoes), etc.
Human Geography Examples:
e.g. demography, political geography, urbanization, immigration, economic geography