Unit 1 Map Skills Essential Vocabulary

A directional arrow that shows cardinal, and sometimes intermediate, directions on a map.

• Compass Rose

• Map

• Latitude

• Longitude

The most commonly used forms of direction: North, South, East, and West.

• Compass Rose

• Intermediate Direction

• Absolute Direction

• Cardinal Direction

The directions on the compass that are halfway between the cardinal points: northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest.

• Cardinal Direction

• Absolute Direction

• Intermediate Direction

• Compass Rose

The location of a place based on a fixed point on earth. The most common way to identify the location is using coordinates such as latitude and longitude. (Ex. 20N 130 W)

• Latitude Longitude Point

• Absolute Location

• Latitude

• Longitude

The lines running east to west around the Earth are called lines of latitude. They measure degrees north and south of the equator.

• Latitude

• Longitude

• Absolute Location

• Directional

The lines running north to south around the Earth are called lines of longitude. They measure degrees east and west of the Prime Meridian.

• Latitude

• Longitude

• Absolute Location

• Map

The Earth's zero line of longitude

• Equator

• Prime Meridian

• North Pole

• Absolute Location

The Earth’s zero line of latitude.

• Longitude

• Equator

• Prime Meridian

• South Pole

A model of the Earth shown on a flat surface

• Map

• Map Key

• Map Scale

• India

Tells you the purpose of the map.

• Title

• Map Scale

• Location

• Map Key