Geography Vocabulary

Prime Meridian

• 0 degrees longitude, divides earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres.

• 90 degrees longitude, marks the boundary of the Arctic Circle.

• 45 degrees latitude, separates the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

• 180 degrees longitude, is the opposite of the Prime Meridian.

What are the cardinal directions?

• North, South, East, West

• Up, Down, Left, Right

• Forward, Backward, Left, Right

• North-East, South-West, North-West, South-East

thematic map

• a map that shows a particular theme, or topic

• a map that displays only physical features

• a map used for navigation and routes

• a map that represents statistical data in graphs

Hemispheres

• Halves of the globe divided by the equator and prime meridian

• Regions of the Earth defined by latitude and longitude

• Sections of the Earth based on climate zones

• Parts of the Earth divided by tectonic plates

political map

• A map showing physical features such as mountains and rivers.

• A map showing units such as countries, states, provinces, districts, etc.

• A map that represents population density across regions.

• A map used for navigation and route planning.

Latitude and Longitude

• lines on globes and maps that provide information to help you easily locate places on the Earth

• imaginary lines that divide the Earth into hemispheres

• the distance between the North and South Poles

• a system used for measuring time zones

physical map

• a map that shows land and water features such as mountains, rivers, deserts, etc.

• a map that focuses on political boundaries and cities

• a map that represents temperature and climate variations

• a map that shows only roads and highways

Equator

• an imaginary line drawn around the earth dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres... 0° Latitude.

• a line that marks the boundary between the Arctic and Antarctic Circles.

• a geographical line that indicates the highest point on Earth.

• a line that represents the longest distance from the North Pole to the South Pole.

map legend (key)

• A guide to the scale of the map

• A list of all the colors used on the map

• Lists and explains what is shown on the map

• A description of the map's creator

Geography

• the study of the earth's physical and cultural features

• the study of celestial bodies and their movements

• the analysis of human behavior and social structures

• the examination of historical events and their impacts