Geography 101!

• Finding Absolute Location

• Finding Relative Location

• Measuring distance

• Reading a map

http://www.wingtv.net/issue5/geography.jpg

Location• Tells us how to find a place on Earth

using…• Absolute Location or Relative Location

Finding Absolute Location

• Geographers have created an imaginary grid of latitude and longitude lines to find location

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/comcon3.jpg

Hemispheres• One half of the Earth

http://www.mrsalgado.com/sheltered_geography_unit2.htm

Latitude

• The starting point for measuring latitude is …

• Equator at 0º• The Equator divides

the Earth in half into the…

• Northern Hemisphere• Southern Hemisphere

NORTHERN

HEMISPHERE

SOUTHERN

HEMISPHERE

EQUATOR

Latitude

• Lines of latitude are measured by…

• Distance from the Equator in degrees

• Direction from the Equator, North or South

0º

90º N

90º S

30ºN

60ºN

30ºS

60ºS

EQUATOR

Longitude• The starting point for

measuring longitude is

• Prime Meridian at 0º• The Prime Meridian

divides the Earth in half into the…

• Western Hemisphere• Eastern Hemisphere

WESTERN

HEMISPHERE

EASTERN

HEMISPHERE

0º

PRIME MERIDIAN

Longitude• Lines of longitude are

measured by…• Distance from the

Prime Meridian in degrees

• Direction from the Prime Meridian, West or East

• International Date Line marks end at 180º

0º30ºW

60ºW30ºE

60ºE

PRIME MERIDIAN

Finding Relative Location

• A Compass Rose is a direction marker on a map

• A Compass rose shows cardinal directions and intermediate directions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7869768@N05/2395362235/

Cardinal Directions• Cardinal

Directions (main directions)

• North (Never)

• East (Eat)

• South (Soggy)

• West (Waffles)

http://stainedglassvisions.com/CompassRose.jpg

Intermediate Directions• Intermediate

Directions (“in between” directions)

• Northeast• Southeast• Southwest• Northwest

NE

SE

SW

NW

Scale Bar

• Relative location can also be measured in distance between two places

• Scale bar shows the relationship between the distance on a map and the actual distance on Earth

Parts of a Good Map

• Title – to show subject of map

• Key or Legend –to interpret or read map

• Compass Rose – to show direction

• Scale Bar – to show distance

• Publisher & Date

http://www.beg.utexas.edu/mapping/borderatp/images/mcallen_layout.gif