Geography/Mapping Terms2
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Antipodes
A pair of points that are on opposite sides of a planet (like the North Pole and the South Pole).
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Atlas
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Compass
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Compass Rose
A design on a map that shows direction. It points which way is north, south, east, west, and some intermediate directions on the map.
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Degree
A unit of measurement for line of Latitude and Longitude
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International Date Line
An imaginary north-south line (at the 180th meridian), in the Pacific Ocean, at which the date changes.
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Key/Legend
A small table accompanying the map that explains the symbols that are used on the map.
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Latitude
The angular distance north or south from the equator to a particular location.
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Longitude
The angular distance east or west from the north-south line that passes through Greenwich, England
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Physical Map
A map that shows an areas natural physical features, like mountains, lakes, and rivers.
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Equator
An imaginary circle around the earth, halfway between the north and south poles.
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Map Scale
The ratio between the distance between two points found on the map as compared to the actual distance between these points in the real world.
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Political Map
A map that shows cultural features, like the political boundaries of countries, states, provinces, and cities.
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Prime Meridian
The line of Longitude at 0 degrees that passes through Greenwich, England
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Hemisphere
Division of the Earth at the Prime Meridian and Equator. Divides into North, South, East, and West
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South Pole
The point on the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth that is farthest south.
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North Pole
The point on the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth that is farthest north.
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Tropics
A warm, equatorial region from 23°30' N to 23°30' S.
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Swamp
A type of freshwater wetland that has spongy, muddly land and a lot of water.
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Canyon
A deep valley with very steep sides - often carved from the Earth by a river.
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Bay
A body of water that is partly enclosed by land (and is usually smaller than a gulf).
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Canal
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Channel
A narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water
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Archipelago
A group or chain of islands clustered together in a sea or ocean.
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Delta
A low, watery land formed at the mouth of a river.
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Desert
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Geyser
A natural hot spring that occasionally sprays water and steam above the ground.
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Glacier
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Isthmus
A narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses. An isthmus has water on two sides.
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Lake
A large body of water surrounded by land on all sides.
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Mesa
A land formation that has a flat area on the top and steep walls
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Peninsula
A body of land that is surrounded by water on three sides.
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Volcano
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Waterfall
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Valley
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Strait
A narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.
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Tributary
A stream or river that flows into a larger river.
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Ocean
A large body of salt water that surrounds a continent.
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Range
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