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Map skills
Term | Definition |
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Relative location | A location stated in terms of its distance and direction from another location. Used to indicate a place's location in a larger context. |
Absolute location | References a location on earth's surface based on specific geographic coordinates such as longitude and latitude. |
Lines of longitude | Imaginary lines, called meridians, that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. Measured as East and West. (Ex: 45 degrees East) |
Prime Meridian | An imaginary line of longitude at 0 degrees that divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western hemispheres. |
Lines of latitude | Imaginary lines, called parallels, that are measured North and South of the equator. Lines of latitude circle around the Earth. (Ex: 67 degrees North). |
Equator | An imaginary line at 0 degrees. The equator divides the Earth into the Northern and southern hemispheres. |
Compass | A navigational tool for finding directions using North, West, South and East as geographic points. |
Compass rose | A navigational tool for finding directions using the immediate directions of North East, North West, South East and South West as geographic points. |
Scale | A map scale that refers to the relationship (or ratio) between the distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. For example, 1 cm on the map = 1 mile on the ground. |
Legend/key | A visual explanation of the symbols of the map. The legend/key will reflect the type of map being used. Example: state map :-*capitol. |
Cartographer | A person who draws or produces a map. |