Map Skills Vocabulary

Earth's largest bodies of water

• oceans

• continents

• directions

• hemisphere

Earth's largest land areas

• oceans

• continents

• directions

• equator

an imaginary line that divides the globe into two equal parts

• hemisphere

• directions

• equator

• latitude

All (a)   on Earth are based on two important points: the North Pole and the South Pole.

Each half of the Earth is called a

• hemisphere

• equator

• longitude

• latitude

A set of imaginary lines used to measure distances that run east to west.

• equator

• longitude

• directions

• latitude

A set of imaginary lines used to measure distances that run north and south.

• North Pole

• longitude

• equator

• latitude

The starting point for measuring longitude.

• latitude

• equator

• prime meridian

• longitude

Directions on a map are shown by a (a)   , with arrows facing north, east, south, and west.

a small globe that has the main map area highlighted

• compass rose

• inset map

• scale

• locator globe