What is Geography?• Geography is the study of place and
space.• Study of human activity, the natural
environment, and the relationship between the two (human-environment interactions).
• Geographers look at where things are and why they are there.
What is Latitude? Run parallel to Equator East to West
Measures North and South
90 degrees North latitude
90 degrees South latitude
Important lines of Latitude:
1. Equator
2. Tropic of Cancer
3. Tropic of Capricorn
4. Arctic Circle
5. Antarctic Circle
What is Longitude?
Run parallel to Prime Meridian
Measures East and West
180 degrees of East longitude
180 degrees of West longitude
Total = 360 degree circle
All lines meet at North Pole and stretch to South Pole
How do you use Latitude and Longitude to find your way?
1. Find the right hemispheres (N, S, E, W).
2. Trace latitude and longitude till they meet.
3. FOLLOW THE CURVE!
Parts of A MapTitle – explains the
subject of the mapCompass Rose – shows
the “Cardinal Directions”, meaning North, South, East, and West
Legend or “Key” - shows and explains the symbols used on the map
Scale – shows the true size of the objects shown on the map
Activity: Identify the Map Parts
What main types of maps
are there? PHYSICAL MAPS
POLITICAL MAPS
THEMATIC MAPS
Physical Maps
Show natural features such as landforms and physical borders; lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, and things that were around before humans
Physical Borders – Borders defined by a physical feature
Example - Rio Grande River, between USA and Mexico
Political Maps
Show features on the earth’s surface that humans created.
Examples of things on a political map?
Political Borders – borders created by governments
National and State Borders,
City Limits, capitals
Thematic Maps
Thematic maps can be tricky, there are many different kinds.They all do the same thing… they show information
Some common thematic maps:
Population maps
Weather maps
Resource maps
Topographic maps
BAYPart of a large
body of water that extends ino a shorline, generally smaller than a gulf
Chesapeake Bay
CANYON
Deep and narrow valley with steep walls
Grand Canyon
GULFPart of a large
body of water that extends into a shoreline, generally larger and more deeply indented than a bay.
Gulf of Mexico
HARBORA sheltered
place along a shoreline where ships can anchor safely
Boston Harbor
LAKEA sizable inland body of water
The Great Lakes
MOUNTAINLand with steep sides
that rises sharply (1000 feet or more) from surrounding land; generally larger and more rugged than a hill.
Appalachian MountainsRocky Mountains
OCEAN
One of the four major bodies of salt water that surround the continents
Atlantic OceanPacific Ocean
PLAIN
An area of level land, usually a low elevation and often covered with grasses.
Great Plains
RIVERLarge natural
stream of water that runs through the land.
Mississippi RiverMissouri RiverOhio RiverHudson RiverRio Grande River
Geography Unit Map Practice
Directions: Label and color the following: