Geography/Mapping Terms

Geography/Mapping TermsMacCarthy1AltitudeThe height of an area, measured from sea level.2

3AntipodesA pair of points that are on opposite sides of a planet (like the North Pole and the South Pole).4

5Atlas A book containing maps and charts.6

7CompassA design that always points north.8

9Compass RoseA design on a map that shows direction. It points which way is north, south, east, west, and some intermediate directions on the map.10

11DegreeA unit of measurement for line of Latitude and Longitude12

13International Date LineAn imaginary north-south line (at the 180th meridian), in the Pacific Ocean, at which the date changes.14

15Key/LegendA small table accompanying the map that explains the symbols that are used on the map.16

17LatitudeThe angular distance north or south from the equator to a particular location.18

19LongitudeThe angular distance east or west from the north-south line that passes through Greenwich, England20

21Physical MapA map that shows an areas natural physical features, like mountains, lakes, and rivers.22

23EquatorAn imaginary circle around the earth, halfway between the north and south poles.24

25Map ScaleThe ratio between the distance between two points found on the map as compared to the actual distance between these points in the real world.26

27Political MapA map that shows cultural features, like the political boundaries of countries, states, provinces, and cities.28

29Prime MeridianThe line of Longitude at 0 degrees that passes through Greenwich, England30

31HemisphereDivision of the Earth at the Prime Meridian and Equator. Divides into North, South, East, and West32

33South PoleThe point on the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth that is farthest south.34

35North PoleThe point on the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth that is farthest north. 36

37TropicsA warm, equatorial region from 2330' N to 2330' S.38

39SwampA type of freshwater wetland that has spongy, muddly land and a lot of water.40

41CanyonA deep valley with very steep sides - often carved from the Earth by a river.42

43BayA body of water that is partly enclosed by land (and is usually smaller than a gulf).44

45CanalA man-made waterway used for transportation or irrigation.46

47ChannelA narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water 48

49ArchipelagoA group or chain of islands clustered together in a sea or ocean.50

51DeltaA low, watery land formed at the mouth of a river.52

53DesertA very dry area.54

55GeyserA natural hot spring that occasionally sprays water and steam above the ground.56

57Glacier A slowly moving river of ice.58

59Isthmus A narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses. An isthmus has water on two sides.60

61LakeA large body of water surrounded by land on all sides.62

63MesaA land formation that has a flat area on the top and steep walls 64

65PeninsulaA body of land that is surrounded by water on three sides.66

67Volcano A mountainous vent in the Earth's crust. 68

69WaterfallWhen a river falls off steeply70

71Valley A low place between mountain72

73StraitA narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.74

75TributaryA stream or river that flows into a larger river.76

77OceanA large body of salt water that surrounds a continent.78

79RangeA chain of mountains and/or high elevations80

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