1. Map Skills: Points and Projections

2. Cardinal Points Otherwise known as “directions” on a compass. Used to find one’s orientation on a map.

3. Cardinal Points EastWest North South SoutheastSouthwest NortheastNorthwest

4. Latitude Imaginary lines that circle the globe (aka Parallels). –Run East - West. –Measure distance in degrees North or South from the Equator. –Go from 0 to 90 degrees.

5. Latitude

6. The Equator separates the globe into North and South Hemispheres (or halves).

7. Latitude Equator

8. Poles Points on the globe found at 90 degrees North Latitude and 90 degrees South Latitude.

9. North Pole (90 degrees North Latitude) South Pole (90 degrees South Latitude)

10. Longitude Imaginary lines that circle the globe (aka Meridians). –Run North - South. –Measure distance in degrees East or West from the Prime Meridian. –Go from 0 to 180 degrees.

11. Longitude

12. The Prime Meridian separates the globe into East and West Hemispheres. –Runs through Greenwich, England (Royal Observatory).

13. Longitude Prime Meridian

15. Important Latitudes Tropic of Cancer – 23.5 Degrees N. Tropic of Capricorn – 23.5 Degrees S. Arctic Circle – 66.5 Degrees N. Antarctic Circle – 66.5 Degrees S

17. Summary Cardinal points allow you to orient yourself using a compass and establish a place’s relative location. Lines of Latitude and Longitude can be used to establish a place’s absolute location.

18. Map Projections All maps are distorted representations of the Earth’s surface. Different types of map projections are used for different purposes.

19. Mercator Maps

20. Distort: Size and Shape Uses: Ship Navigation (Easy to plot courses)

21. Polar Maps

22. Distort: Size and Shape Uses: Airline navigation (Shortest distance between two points is a strait line).

23. Robinson Maps

24. Distort: Size and Distance Uses: Displaying Data (As in thematic maps)

25. Robinson Maps Often thematic (display data): PopulationClimate Economic ActivityPrecipitation ResourcesVegetation LanguagesPhysical EthnicityPolitical