CHAPTER 1

The Tools of Geography

Essential Question: How do geographers show information on maps?

Geoterms• Absolute Location: the precise point where a place is located

on Earth• Distortion: a change in the shape, size, or position of a place

when it is shown on a map•Map Projection: a way of representing the spherical Earth on

a flat surface• Relative Location: where a place is located in relation to

another place

The Geographic Setting

• Locating Things on EarthThe Main Purpose of Maps

Absolute locationRelative location

• DistortionThe Big Problem with Maps

Two-dimensional – length & widthMap projections – possible solution

Maps, Titles, and Symbols

• The Title Tells What a Map Shows• A Compass Rose Shows Direction on a Map• A Legend Identifies Symbols on a Map• A Grid Organizes Space on a Map

PHASE 11

Write the map’s title inthe northwest cornerabove the map.

PHASE 12

How many picnic areasdoes the park have?Write the answer nearthe legend.

PHASE 13

Draw a compass rose nearthe west edge of the map.

PHASE 14

Label the two historicalmonuments south of theGold Discovery Site.

PHASE 15

Label the park buildingsnortheast of the GoldDiscovery Museum.

PHASE 16

Label the footpath youfind at grid coordinatesF1.

PHASE 17

Label the park buildingwhose absolute locationis G6.

PHASE 18

Trace two routes—each in a different color—from the Mill Site to the Jail Ruins.

PHASE 19

1

What direction is EmmanuelChurch from the Olde Coloma Theatre? Write the direction near the church.

PHASE 110

What direction is St. John’s Church from the schoolhouse? Write the direction near the church.

The Global Grid

• Longitude and LatitudeLines of Latitude Parallel the Equator

Parallels of Latitude They run east and west Equator – most important

Lines of Latitude Parallel the EquatorMeridians of Longitude

They run from Pole to Pole Prime Meridian – most important International Date Line – next most important

Latitude and Longitude Mark Absolute LocationCoordinates

Identify exact location

PHASE 21

Write the name of theparallel at 0° latitude.

PHASE 22

Write the name of themeridian at 0° longitude.

PHASE 23

Write the name of the parallel at 23 1/2 ° north latitude and the name of the parallel at 23 1/2° south latitude.

PHASE 24

Write the name of theparallel at 66 1/2° northlatitude.

PHASE 25

Label the city located at47°N, 71°W.

PHASE 26

Label the city located at38°S, 145°E.

PHASE 27

Label the city located at41°N, 29°E.

PHASE 28

Label the city located at19°N, 73°E.

PHASE 29

1

Label the two cities locatednorth of 15° north latitudeand east of 105° eastlongitude.

PHASE 210

Label the five cities locatedsouth of 30° north latitudeand west of 15° eastlongitude.

Dealing with Distances

• Map ScalesScale Effects Details

Large Scale map – close-up view of a small area with a lot of detailSmall Scale map – shows a large area but with few details

Estimating Distance with a Map ScaleMap Scale – tells you how to read distance on the map

PHASE 31

Find the distance between Washington, D.C., and New Carrollton. Draw a line between the two places, and write the distance on the line.

PHASE 32

Find the distance betweenthe Washington Monument and the Smithsonian Institution. Draw a line between the two places, and write the distance on the line.

PHASE 33

Find the distance between Potomac and College Park. Draw a line between the two places, and write the distance on the line.

PHASE 34

Find the distance between the Washington Convention Center and the National Portrait Gallery. Draw aline between the two places, and write the distance on the line.

PHASE 35

What will you find approximately 3 miles north of Falls Church? Draw a line between the two places, and write the distance on the line.

PHASE 36

What will you find approximately 0.75 mile west of the National Portrait Gallery? Draw a linebetween the two places, and write the distance on the line.

PHASE 37

What will you find approximately 10 miles east of Alexandria? Draw a line between the two places,and write the distance on the line.

PHASE 38

What will you find approximately 1.25 miles southeast of the NationalAquarium? Draw a line between the two places, and write the distance on the line.

PHASE 39

1

Which map will help you find your friend’s apartment on New YorkAvenue? Write “find an apartment” near the map you would use.

PHASE 310

Which map will help you decide if you should walk or take a taxi toWashington, D.C., from Arlington? Write “decide to walk or take a taxi” near the map you would use.

Hemispheres, Continents, and Oceans

• A Hemisphere is Half a WorldHemispheres – Earth is divided into halves

• Continents and Oceans Continents Landmass

PHASE 41

Label the largest continent.

PHASE 42

Label the smallest continent.

PHASE 43

Locate the United States. Within its borders, label the two hemispheres in which it is located.

PHASE 44

Locate Africa. Within its borders, label the hemispheres in whichit is located.

PHASE 45

Label the continent directly northof Africa.

PHASE 46

Label the ocean that touchesthe shores of Europe andSouth America.

PHASE 47

Label the three continents that the equator runs through.

PHASE 48

Label the ocean that lies northof Europe.

PHASE 49

1

Label the ocean that touchesthe shores of both Asia andSouth America.

PHASE 410

Label the ocean that lies tothe south of Asia.

Earth and the Sun• Earth’s Movement

Revolution – one trip around the sun (365¼ days)Axis – imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South PoleRotation – Spinning motion of the Earth (24 hours)

• Earth’s Tilt Creates the SeasonsThe tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the sun

• Tropics, Circles, and ZonesTropic of Cancer – northern line latitude where the sun’s rays beat straight downTropic of Capricorn – southern line latitude where the sun’s rays beat straight downTropical Zones – Area between the two linesArctic Circle –northernmost line of latitudeAntarctic Circle – southernmost line of latitudePolar Zones – area between the Arctic and Antarctic CirclesTemperate Zones – area between the tropical and polar zones

Summers are warm and winters are cool

PHASE 51

It is March 30 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Label the date and the season near that city.

PHASE 52

It is June 30 in Tokyo, Japan. Label the date and the season near that city.

PHASE 53

It is September 30 in Quebec City, Canada. Label the date and the season near that city.

PHASE 54

It is December 30 in London, England. Label the date and the season near that city.

PHASE 55

It is summer in Melbourne, Australia. Label the season in Riode Janeiro, Brazil.

PHASE 56

It is summer in Santiago, Chile. Label the season in Istanbul, Turkey.

PHASE 57

It is winter in Shanghai, China. Label the season in Tehran, Iran.

PHASE 58

It is winter in London, England. Label the season in Cape Town, South Africa.

PHASE 59

1

Find the four tropical zone cities in the Southern Hemisphere. Label each of them tropical zone.

PHASE 510

Find the two temperate zone cities that are in both the Northern and the Western hemispheres. Label each ofthem temperate zone.

Showing a Round World on a Flat Map

• All Flat Maps Have DistortionLambert Projections

Shows polar Areas that Other Maps Distort

Mercator ProjectionsShows Direction but Distorts Size

Eckert IV ProjectionsShows Size but Distorts Shape

Goode’s Homolosine ProjectionsShows Continents but Distorts the Oceans

PHASE 61

Label each map projection with its name. (Clue: Look very carefully at the differences between the Robinson and Eckert IV projections.)

PHASE 62

Color in North America on the map projection that shows the most area distortion.

PHASE 63

Draw an equal sign in North America on the map projection that does not distort area.

PHASE 64

Circle North America on the map projection that shows the most shape distortion.

PHASE 65

Find the map projection that has a balance between area and shape distortion without affecting the oceans. Outline and draw an equal sign in North America on that map projection.

PHASE 66

You own an outdoor adventure company that specializes in sailing trips throughout the Atlantic Ocean. You need to be able to determine accurate direction. Draw a sailboaton the map projection that is most helpful to you.

PHASE 67

You work for the United Nations studying how many people live per square mile in various countries. You need to be able to determine the accurate size of land. Drawa stick figure of a person on the mapprojection that is most helpful to you.

PHASE 68

You work for a book publisher that has to present a fairly accurate picture of the world. You need to avoid a lot of area or shape distortion. Draw a book on the map projection that is most helpful to you.

PHASE 69

You study ocean life along the coast of Antarctica. You need to be able to see acontinuous view of the ocean along the coast. Draw a fish with an X through iton the map projection that is least helpful to you.

Essential Question: How do geographers show information on maps?