Download Map Features PPT

Geography Unit
Chapter: Map Features
Upon completion of Chapter:
Map Features you will:
1) Understand how to utilize a map key to interpret
different types of maps
2) Use a scale on a map and convert distances from
inches to centimeters and miles to kilometers
3) Identify locations on a map using latitudinal and
longitudinal coordinates
4) Recognize the importance of the Prime Meridian and
Equator and how the two lines identify hemispheres
and determine seasons.
Geography Unit
Chapter: Map Features
Key Terms
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Map Features
Title
Legend
Scale
Cardinal Directions
Intermediate
Directions
Latitude/Longitude
Hemispheres
Country Border
Country Capital
Other City
Often a map
has a key, or
legend. The
key shows
the symbols
and colors
used on the
map, and
what each
one means.
 A map key explains what the symbols, shading, and
colors on a map represent.
 Symbols range from simple dots and circles that
represent cities and capitals to tiny drawing that
represent types of manufacturing and industry or
agriculture.
 Shading and colors are used to show elevation,
population density, political division, and so on.
 The map key for the map of China you have shows a
combination of shading and drawings to represent
economic activity and resources.
Map Key Activity
 Using the map of China, please answer the following
questions:
1) How many different types of shading are represented
on the map key?
2) What symbol is used to represent oil?
3) Which part of China is least developed economically?
4) Describe the economic activity and resources around
Beijing.
5) Based on the map, which city in China has the most
varied manufacturing and industry?
6) Why does the map use a combination of shadings and
drawings to show economic activity and resources?
Click here to download the map used for this activity:
Maps are drawn to different scales,
depending on their purpose.
Some
maps
show large areas
and need larger
scales, while
other maps show
smaller areas and
need smaller scales
The four Hemispheres
Prime Meridian
Parallels of Latitude
Northern
Hemisphere
Southern
Hemisphere
Latitude and Longitude
Parallels of Latitude go
around the Earth
Meridians of Longitude go
around the Earth
Parallels of Latitude
Parallels of Latitude go
around the Earth.
The Equator separates
the Earth into two
hemispheres
Each degree equals
about 70 miles.
They are measured in degrees
from 0-90 in both
hemispheres
How many miles is it
from 0 to 90 North?
How about 0 to 90
South?
Meridians of Longitude
The Prime Meridian is 0 Longitude
The same line on the other half of the world is 180
Meridians of Longitude
180
As the Prime Meridian goes
around the other side of the
globe the degree changes to
180
180 Degrees is also where you
find the International Date Line
Crossing the IDL
There is a 14
hour time
difference
between Sydney
and Los Angeles.
If the flight to Los
Angeles takes 14
hours, I arrive at
the same day and
time I departed.
Depart Sydney
NSW, AU at 8:00
a.m. Tuesday
Arrive L.A., CA, USA
at 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday
The “Tropics”
The area bounded by the Tropic of
Cancer on the north and Tropic of
Capricorn on the south is known as
the "tropics."
This area does not experience
seasons because the sun is always
high in the sky.
Only higher latitudes, north of the
Tropic of Cancer and south of the
Tropic of Capricorn, experience
significant seasonal variation
in climate.
Map Projections
Maps are drawings that
show regions on flat
surfaces
Maps cannot show the
correct size and shape of
every feature on the Earth’s
surface
Because of this problem,
different types of maps are
used for different reasons
No map projection can
show accurately the correct
shape and distance for the
entire Earth’s surface
Map Projections
When you flatten a globe in order to make a map you
create global gores.
 In order to make a map with these gores you have to
distort the images.
Same Shape Map Projections
Mercator Map
This map shows accurate
shape and direction but it
distorts distance and size.
In other words, the map
shows exactly WHAT the
continents look like, but not
where they are and how big
or small they are.
Equal Area Map Projections
Map projections that show the correct size of
landmasses are called equal-area maps.
In order to show the correct size of landmasses, these
maps usually distort shapes
The distortion is usually greater at
the edges of the map and less at the center.
Equal Area Map Projections
In order to make an equal
area map, the gores are
squeezed together at the
top and bottom
Robinson Map
The Robinson map is a
compromise between the
Mercator and equal-area
It keeps the size and shape
relationships of most
continents and oceans, but
distorts the size of the polar
regions.
Physical Maps
Physical maps represent what a region
looks like by showing its major physical
features
Physical maps also
often show elevation
and relief
Elevation, indicated by
colors, is the height of
the land above sea level.
Relief, indicated by
shading, shows how
sharply the land rises or
falls.