Geography Vocabulary

The four main directions: North , South, East, West

• Intermediate Directions

• Latitude

• Cardinal Directions

• Equator

The point halfway between the cardinal directions: North East, North West, South East, South West.

• Continent

• Cardinal Directions

• Longitude

• Intermediate Directions

Imaginary Horizontal lines that measure the distance north and south of the equator

• Latitude

• Hemisphere

• Longitude

• Map Scale

Imaginary vertical lines that measure the distance east and west of the Prime Meridian

• Longitude

• Map Key or Legend

• Symbol

• Latitude

An imaginary line that is exactly midway between the North Pole and the South Pole. Divides Earth into two equal halves, the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

• Symbol

• Longitude

• Latitude

• Equator

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

• Hemisphere

• Symbol

• Map Key or Legend

• Map Scale

Small table accompanying the map that explains the symbols that are on the map

• Map scale

• Map key or Legend

• Cardinal Directions

• Equator

A landmass on Earth. There are 7 of these: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

• Intermediate directions

• Latitude

• Continent

• Map Scale

A half of the Earth. If split horizontally, you have the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. If split vertically, you have the Eastern and Western Hemisphere

• Hemisphere

• Continent

• Longitude

• Latitude

A ruler that shows distances on a map

• Symbol

• Map Scale

• Hemisphere

• Equator