Introduction to Maps & Geography

Introduction to Maps & Geography

Hemispheres:

Latitude:• Latitude lines are imaginary lines on the earth's

surface. They run east and west around the globe and tell you your distance north or south of the Equator.

• Think of latitude like the rungs of a ladder (ladder sounds a lot like latitude).

Longitude:Longitude lines are imaginary lines on the earth's surface that run from pole to pole around the globe and tell you your distance east or west from the Prime Meridian.

Latitude & Longitude:

• The coordinates for Latitude are given for north or south & always listed first: (28°N, 13°W).

• The coordinates for Longitude are given for east or west & always listed second: (28°N, 13°W).

• Both are given in degrees represented by a ° symbol.

• One degree can further be divided into 60 minutes, represented by ‘. (49°30’N = 49.5°)

• One minute can be further divided into 60 seconds, represented by “. (49°40’23”S)

Latitude and Longitude :* List the Latitude & Longitude for A – J on your worksheet:

Answers:A = 20°S 100°EB = 80°N 0°C = 0° 140°WD = 60°S 40°WE = 40°N 60°EF = 20°S 20°EG = 40°N 100°WH = 20°N 40°EI = 50°N 120°EJ = 10°S 40°W

Compass Rose (Direction):

N = neverE = eatS = shreddedW = wheat

Fill in your compass rose:

Scale:

• Scale is how “zoomed in” a map is.• Scale allows

you to find out distances.• We use metric

in Canada.

Using Your Atlas:• Table of Contents: Pages 2 & 3.• This shows you where to find the maps you

need.• Latitude, Longitude, & Scale: Page 6.• How to use the “Gazetteer”: Pages 184 – 223.• This feature allows you to find cities in the

atlas.