Tools of Geography Vocabulary

the precise point where a place is located on earth

• relative location

• absolute location

• distortion

• map projection

four directions of north, south, east, and west

• compass rose

• legend or key

• cardinal direction

• intermediate directions

a change in the shape, size, or position of a place when it is shown on a map

• projection

• scale

• legend or key

• distortion

a system of imaginary lines (may be labeled using letters or numbers) that can be used to locate places on a map

• absolute lovation

• relative location

• grid

• map projection

A tool on a map showing cardinal (N,E,S,W) and intermediate (NE,SE,NW,SW) directions

• compass rose

• cardinal direction

• legend or key

• intermediate directions

gives information about the symbols used on a map

• grid

• key or legend

• compass rose

• distortion

where a place is located in relation to another place

• grid

• compass rose

• absolute location

• relative location

directions between the cardinal directions such as northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest

• compass rose

• cardinal directions

• intermediate directions

• legend or key

tells what the map is about

• map title

• legend or key

• grid

• map projection

a way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface

• distortion

• map title

• key or legend

• map projection