Map Skills Vocabulary

Front

the study of the Earth and its physical features

Back

geography

Front

largest areas of water on Earth

Back

oceans

Front

The horizontal line on a globe that separates the Earth into the Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere.

Back

equator

Front

Large area of land separated from other areas by water, mountains, or other natural features

Back

continent

Front

What shows direction on a map?

Back

compass rose

Front

Lines that run east to west on a map or globe that tell how far from the equator a place is.

Back

latitude

Front

What shows what the symbols on a map mean (also known as a map key)?

Back

legend

Front

Lines that run from north to south on a map or globe that tell how far from the Prime Meridian a place is.

Back

longitude

Front

What shows how distance on a map compares to distance in real life?

Back

map scale

Front

0° longitude. Splits the Earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres.

Back

Prime Meridian