Basic GeographyBundle 1

1. Geography - study of the earth and its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and theeffects of human activity

2. Hemisphere - A half of the earth, usually as divided into northern and southern halves by the equator, or into western and eastern halves by an imaginary line passing through the poles

3. Latitude and Longitude – parallel lines circling the Political maps – maps that show name and boundaries of countries and locations of cities

Earth used to find locations

Latitude lines are “stacked” and are measured in degrees North or South of the Equator

Longitude lines run “up and down” from North to South Pole and are measured in degrees East or West from the Prime Meridian (located in Greenwich, England)

4. Equator –imaginary line circling the middle of the Earth like a belt

5. Tropics – two parallels of latitude, one located above the equator and one below

Tropic of Cancer

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

6. Globe –circular model of the Earth

7. Continent - one of several major land masses on the Earth

8. Elevation – height of land above sea level

Stephenville is 1390 ft. above sea level

Denver, CO is 5680 ft. above sea level (mile high)

Death Valley, CA is 282 feet (lowest point in U.S.)

9. Relief – details and colors on a map used to show how flat or rugged an area is

10. Absolute Location -exact point on theEarth's surface expressed by a coordinate system such as latitude and longitude.

Stephenville is 32 degrees North and 98 degrees West

11. Scale – measuring line used to determine distance on a map (Ex. 1 inch = 200 miles)

12. Key – used to explain lines, symbols, colors, etc. on a map

13. Compass Rose – used to tell the directions on a map – N, S, E, W

14. Climate – pattern of weather in an area overan extended period of time

15. Physical maps – maps that show the landforms and water features of an area( – usually uses the colors brown and green for landforms and blue for water)

16. Political maps – maps that show name and boundaries of countries and locations of cities