What is Geography?Geography Geography is the study of place and space. Study of human activity, the natural environment, and the relationship between the two (human-environment interactions). Geographers look at where things are and why they are there.

What is Latitude?Latitude Run parallel to Equator East to West Measures North and South 90 degrees North latitude 90 degrees South latitude Important lines of Latitude: 1. Equator 2. Tropic of Cancer 3. Tropic of Capricorn 4. Arctic Circle 5. Antarctic Circle

What is Longitude? Run parallel to Prime Meridian Measures East and West 180 degrees of East longitude 180 degrees of West longitude Total = 360 degree circle All lines meet at North Pole and stretch to South Pole

How do you use Latitude and Longitude to find your way? 1. Find the right hemispheres (N, S, E, W). 2. Trace latitude and longitude till they meet. 3. FOLLOW THE CURVE!

Parts of A Map Title – explains the subject of the map Compass Rose – shows the “Cardinal Directions”, meaning North, South, East, and West Legend or “Key” - shows and explains the symbols used on the map Scale – shows the true size of the objects shown on the map

Activity: Identify the Map Parts

What main types of maps are there? PHYSICAL MAPS POLITICAL MAPS THEMATIC MAPS

Physical Maps Show natural features such as landforms and physical borders; lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, and things that were around before humans Physical Borders – Borders defined by a physical feature Example - Rio Grande River, between USA and Mexico

Political Maps Show features on the earth’s surface that humans created. Examples of things on a political map? Political Borders – borders created by governments National and State Borders, City Limits, capitals

Thematic Maps Thematic maps can be tricky, there are many different kinds. They all do the same thing… they show information Some common thematic maps: Population maps Weather maps Resource maps Topographic maps

BAY Part of a large body of water that extends ino a shorline, generally smaller than a gulf Chesapeake Bay

CANYON Deep and narrow valley with steep walls Grand Canyon

GULF Part of a large body of water that extends into a shoreline, generally larger and more deeply indented than a bay. Gulf of Mexico

HARBOR A sheltered place along a shoreline where ships can anchor safely Boston Harbor

LAKE A sizable inland body of water The Great Lakes

MOUNTAIN Land with steep sides that rises sharply (1000 feet or more) from surrounding land; generally larger and more rugged than a hill. Appalachian Mountains Rocky Mountains

OCEAN One of the four major bodies of salt water that surround the continents Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean

PLAIN An area of level land, usually a low elevation and often covered with grasses. Great Plains

RIVER Large natural stream of water that runs through the land. Mississippi River Missouri River Ohio River Hudson River Rio Grande River

Geography Unit Map Practice All 50 STATES Appalachian Mts. Rocky Mts. Gulf of Mexico Pacific Ocean Ohio River Mississippi River Missouri River Hudson River Rio Grande River Atlantic Ocean Compass Rose Great Plains Chesapeake Bay Grand Canyon Boston Harbor The Great Lakes Directions: Label and color the following: