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Map Skills Vocabulary
Words you need to read maps and globes: equator, hemisphere, latitude, compass rose and more.
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- MapWordA flat drawing that shows where places are
- GlobeWordA model of the Earth shaped like a ball
- AtlasWordA book of maps
- Compass roseWordA symbol on a map that shows the directions north, south, east and west
- Cardinal directionsWordNorth, south, east and west
- Intermediate directionsWordNortheast, northwest, southeast and southwest
- Map key (legend)WordA box that explains what the symbols and colors on a map mean
- Map scaleWordShows how distance on the map matches real distance
- SymbolWordA small picture or mark on a map that stands for a real thing
- TitleWordTells what the map shows
- GridWordCrossing lines on a map used to find places
- EquatorWordThe imaginary line around the middle of the Earth at 0 degrees latitude
- Prime MeridianWordThe imaginary line at 0 degrees longitude that runs through Greenwich, England
- LatitudeWordLines that run east and west and measure distance north or south of the equator
- LongitudeWordLines that run north and south and measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian
- ParallelsWordAnother name for lines of latitude
- MeridiansWordAnother name for lines of longitude
- HemisphereWordHalf of the Earth
- Northern HemisphereWordThe half of the Earth north of the equator
- Southern HemisphereWordThe half of the Earth south of the equator
- Eastern HemisphereWordThe half of the Earth east of the Prime Meridian, including Asia and Australia
- Western HemisphereWordThe half of the Earth west of the Prime Meridian, including the Americas
- Tropic of CancerWordThe line of latitude 23.5 degrees north of the equator
- Tropic of CapricornWordThe line of latitude 23.5 degrees south of the equator
- Arctic CircleWordThe line of latitude about 66.5 degrees north
- Antarctic CircleWordThe line of latitude about 66.5 degrees south
- North PoleWordThe point farthest north on Earth, at 90 degrees north
- South PoleWordThe point farthest south on Earth, at 90 degrees south
- DegreeWordA unit used to measure latitude and longitude, shown as °
- CoordinatesWordNumbers (latitude and longitude) that name an exact place
- Political mapWordA map that shows borders of countries, states and cities
- Physical mapWordA map that shows landforms like mountains and rivers
- Topographic mapWordA map that uses lines to show the height and shape of the land
- Contour lineWordA line on a map joining places of the same height
- ElevationWordHow high a place is above sea level
- Road mapWordA map that shows roads and highways
- Thematic mapWordA map about one topic, such as rainfall or population
- Population densityWordHow many people live in a certain area
- Border (boundary)WordA line that shows where one country, state or area ends and another begins
- ContinentWordOne of Earth's seven huge land areas
- CapitalWordThe city where a country's or state's government is based
- RegionWordAn area with something in common, like climate or culture
- Relative locationWordWhere a place is compared with other places, such as 'north of the river'
- Absolute locationWordThe exact spot of a place, often given in latitude and longitude
- ProjectionWordA way of flattening the round Earth onto a flat map
- Mercator projectionWordA common map style that stretches areas near the poles
- Inset mapWordA small map placed on a bigger map to show a detail
- Sea levelWordThe average height of the ocean's surface, used as zero for measuring height
- CartographerWordA person who makes maps
- GPSWordGlobal Positioning System: uses satellites to find where you are
- Bird's-eye viewWordA view looking straight down from above
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