Latitude and Longitude Finding Absolute Locations Mapping Skills Latitude and Longitude Finding Absolute Locations

The Parts of a Map How do maps help us to represent geographic information? Different types of maps are used to show a variety of different information. Maps can be used to answer geographic questions, infer relationships, and analyze change. A famous geographer, Harm de Blij, once called maps “the language of geography”.

Maps Are flat, two-dimensional representations of space. With maps, geographers can show how places are influenced by their location and how different places affect each other. Maps can be used to answer geographic questions, to make connections, to infer relationships, and to analyze change. Each map is really a diagram of a larger area. It shows where things are located. Every map has certain features you should be familiar with…

Parts of a Map Title: The title of the map describes the information it presents. For example, the title of the map above is: Australia It shows many aspects of the continent of Australia.

Legend/Key The legend lists the symbols used on the map, including any special colors or shading, and identifies what each symbol represents. For example: the legend shows the symbols for the minerals found on the continent.

Compass Rose The compass rose shows where the four basic directions: north, south, east, and west. If a compass rose is not found on the map, then you can assume that the top of the map is showing north.

Scale A map would be impossible to use it were the same size as the area it shows. Cartographers (mapmakers) reduce the size of the map to fit onto a page. The scale is used to show how much the map has been reduced. It shows the actual distance between places on the map. Map scales are often shown as a line marked: Scale of Miles. When answering questions about distance, you need to ask if the questions is asking for miles or kilometers, one way, or round trip.

Types of Maps Physical Maps: show the major physical features of an area, such as its rivers, mountains, vegetation and elevation (height above sea level). Political Maps: show the major boundaries between countries or states. Historical Maps: show political boundaries from the past. With a historical map, you should pay close attention to the names of countries, political borders, and the location of cities. These may be different than they are today. Thematic Maps: show information relating to a specific theme, such as the spread of a religion, trade routes, or the industrial growth of a nation. Population density Maps: show where people live in a specific area. Resource or Product Maps: show the major natural resources and agricultural and industrial products of an area.

Physical Maps

Political Maps

Historical Maps

Thematic Maps

Population Density Maps

(shown as a vertical line) is the distance, in degrees, of a point east or west of the Prime (Greenwich) Meridian. Lines of longitude are often referred to as meridians. Longitude

Latitude (shown as a horizontal line) is the distance, in degrees of a point north or south of the Equator. Lines of latitude are often referred to as parallels. Latitude

Grid System shows where latitude and longitude lines cross to show the coordinates or absolute location of places on earth. Grid System

Hemispheres Geographers also divide the earth into hemispheres. Hemi- is a prefix that means half. Everything north of the equator is in the Northern Hemisphere, while everything south of the equator is in the Southern Hemisphere. The Western Hemisphere is west of the prime meridian, while the Eastern Hemisphere is east of the prime meridian. The hemispheres both end at the International Date Line. The United States is in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. West Palm Beach, Florida is 80 degrees west of the prime meridian and 26 degrees north of the equator. This is commonly expressed as 26°N,80°W.

Have a student come up and find the coordinates. Practice Write the coordinates for the red dot on the map. Remember that North/South (latitude) is first, and East/West (longitude) is last in the coordinates. Answer: 30° N, 93° W

Practice Time Allow students to come up one at a time and show how they found the coordinates. On a sheet of paper write A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J down the left side of your paper. Next to each write the coordinates, again remember that latitude goes first, and longitude goes last. Be sure to follow the curve of the longitude lines. Example: A – 20°S, 100°E How did I find this? I found the equator to make sure that A was North or South of the Equator, then checked the degree that A is on. I found the prime meridian to make sure that A was East or West of the prime meridian, then checked the degree that A is on. YOU DO THE REST….

Your Coordinates Map Take your world map and a red piece of string and a blue piece of string. Tie the blue piece of string horizontally around the map to represent your latitude lines. Tie the red piece of string vertically around the map to represent your longitude lines. To begin, place your strings at 0° the equator (latitude) and 0° the prime meridian (longitude).

What Continent is found in all four hemispheres?

E E E E E 20° N, 40° W What ocean is this coordinate found on?

E E E E E 60° S, 80° E What hemispheres is this coordinate found on?

E E E E E 40° N, 80° W What Continent is the coordinate found on?

30° N, 100° W This coordinate is found on what two hemispheres? E E E

E E E E E 20° S, 140° E This coordinate is found on what Continent?

NOW YOU PRACTICE TONIGHT