Map Vocabulary Definitions

a mapmaker

• hemisphere

• prime meridian

• international date line

• cartographer

lines that connect equal points of elevation

• contour lines

• latitude

• longitude

• prime meridian

an imaginary line that lies halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole

• prime meridian

• international date line

• equator

• contour lines

a spherical model of the earth

• hemisphere

• map key

• cartographer

• globe

half the earth

• hemisphere

• cartographer

• globe

• map scale

a map that shows where past events took place or how a place has changed over time

• physical map

• historical map

• political map

• topographic map

an imaginary line, along the 180th meridian, that marks one day from the next

• international date line

• contour lines

• prime meridian

• longitude

imaginary lines on a map that run east and west around the earth. These lines measure distances north and south of the equator

• prime meridian

• equator

• latitude

• longitude

imaginary lines on a map that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. These lines measure east and west of the prime meridian.

• longitude

• latitude

• international date line

• prime meridian

gives the meaning of the symbols that appear on a map

• cartographer

• map scale

• map key

• contour lines