Map Skills Vocabulary

A natural feature of the earth is a 

• compass rose
• scale
• landform
• map

A symbol on a map that shows directions, both cardinal and intermediate

• Compass Rose
• Map key
• Grid system
• region

A map that shows information such as borders, capitals and important cities

• Locator map
• Inset map
• Physical map
• Political map

A ruler that shows distances on a map

• Symbol
• Compass rose
• Scale
• Region

Vertical (long) lines of measurement on the globe that measure distances that run east and west of the Prime Meridian

• Longitude
• Latitude
• Scale
• Grid system

Numbered and lettered rows of imaginary squares along the edges of a map

• Scale
• Grid System
• Map key
• Political Map

A mark, drawing, or color on a map that stands for something else

• Scale
• Longitude
• Physical map
• Symbol

A map that shows geographic features of a place, such as mountains, valleys and bodies of water

• Physical map
• Region
• Political map
• Compass rose

An area that shares physical features or human characteristics

• Map key
• Region
• Symbol
• Physical map

Horizontal (lazy) lines that measure the distances north and south from the equator

• Equator
• Latitude
• Longitude
• Grid system