Introduction to World Geography

Geography Study of the Earth’s surface and the process that shapes it, the connection between places, and the complex relationship between people and their environments.

Starts with the Solar System

Planets orbit around the Sun 1. Mercury 2. Venus 3. Earth 4. Mars 5. Jupiter 6. Saturn 7. Uranus 8. Neptune

Earth is the 3rd rock from the Sun

Earth consists of 7 Continents 7 Continents in size order : 1. Asia 2. Africa 3. North America 4. South America 5. Antarctica 6. Europe 7. Australia

Earth consists of 5 Oceans 5 Oceans in size order : 1. Pacific 2. Atlantic 3. Indian 4. Southern 5. Arctic

2 ways to show the Earth in a smaller Scale Globes – Most accurate because the Earth is a Sphere and so is a Globe.

2nd way to show the Earth in a smaller scale is……… Maps – are flat and to put the round earth on a flat surface distortion occurs. This means some parts of a Map needs to be shrunk and stretched to fit.

One who Creates and Makes maps Cartographer One who Creates and Makes maps

Display Countries or States with different COLORS Political Maps Display Countries or States with different COLORS

Physical/Topographic Maps Display elevation with different COLORS

4 Essential parts of a Map 1. Title – Name, Date, and description of the Map

4 Essential parts of the Map 2. Key or Legend – Shows and explains what symbols mean on a Map.

4 Essential parts of a Map 3. Scale – Compares the distance on the Map to the actual distance of the Earth.

4 Essential parts of a Map 4. Compass Rose Displays Direction Cardinal Direction North, South, East, West Intermediate Direction Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast

The Earth is broken into HEMISPHERES

Equator – an imaginary line that separates the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Prime Meridian – is an imaginary line that separates the Earth into Western and Eastern Hemispheres.

The other Half of the Prime meridian is the 180th Meridian International Date Line rest mainly on the 180th Meridian

Other important points on the Earths North and South Poles

A systematic way of locating a place. The Grid System A systematic way of locating a place.

Grid System is made up of Latitude and Longitude Lines.

Lines of Latitude are imaginary lines that circle the Earth, measure North and South but run East and West. Latitude Lines are also called Parallels because they never cross or intersect.

Longitude lines are also called Meridians Longitude Lines are imaginary lines that circle earth. They start from North Pole and meet again at the South Pole. Lines measure East and West but run North and South Longitude lines are also called Meridians

Together they set up a graph so one can Chart and Locate Places.