Back to Basics

1. Back to Basics The Basics of Geography

2. What does that mean? • Continent – large landmass bigger than an island. • Country - A region, territory, or large tract of land distinguishable by features of topography, biology, or culture • State - one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government • Province - an administrative district or division of a country

3. What is Geography • Geography – (words were derived from the Greek) • Geo – the earth • Graphy- description of the earth • Geography is the study of the earth in all of its variety • There are many different types of geography • Physical (we study this in class) • Cultural • Political • Just to name a few

4. What is Geography

5. Why Study Geography • Geography is necessary in our everyday lives. • Every time we walk outside, we are entering into a part of geography • Getting around the school you use geography • You wouldn’t be able to go on vacation without geography

6. What Do You Think Tell me ways that you use geography in you everyday life.

7. The Continents • There are 7 continents on the Earth’s surface • The order in terms of size are • Asia • Africa • North America • Each continent contains countries. For example Asia the continent has China as a country. • North America the continent has the United States as a country

8. 7 Continents • Europe and Asia are sometimes referred to as this? • A: Eurasia • Millions of years ago the continents were all connected and called this? ________________________ • A: Pangea

9. Tell Me What You Think • Which is the country, and which is the continent? • Paraguay and South America • Asia and Russia • Egypt and Africa • Europe and Greenland • England and Europe

10. Globes • A round scale model of the earth • The most accurate way to depict the earth • They accurately represent distance and direction (ratio) • Discovered by the Greeks

11. Maps • Flat drawing of all or part of the earth’s surface. • This is the name of a person who makes maps? • A: Cartographer • Maps are good because you can show small areas in great details • There are many types of maps

12. Types of Maps • Physical Maps • Political Maps • Special Purpose Maps • Interrupted • Robinson • Mercator • Great Circle • Relief

13. Types of Maps • Physical & Political Maps are known as __________________ purpose maps. • A: General • Physical Maps: • ____________ shows how flat or rugged the land is. • A: Relief • ____________ the height above sea-level. (colorful) • A: Elevation • ____________ also show elevation, however they use lines to display them. (________ lines) • A: Contour

14. Political Maps • Generally very bright and colorful • Show political boundaries, countries, roads etc.

15. Special Purpose Maps • Maps that talk specifically about one thing. • Special purpose maps can be physical and political • Examples: Rainfall, population, climate zones, roads etc.

16. Interrupted • Resembles a peeled, flattened orange. • Represents continent land area close to true form. • Good for comparing land area among continents.

17. Robinson Maps • Minor distortions • Land on the Western and Eastern sides of the map appear much as it does on a globe • Largest distortions occur in North and South Poles

18. Mercator Maps • Shows true direction and land shapes accurately • Size and distance are distorted • Areas that are far from the equator are largely distorted usually appearing larger.

19. Types of Maps • Small Scale Maps – Shows very little detail. • Large Scale Maps - Show a small area with a lot of detail.

20. Large Scale Map

21. Small Scale Map

22. Large Scale & Small Scale Maps

23. Parts of a Map • There are five parts of a map • Title • Legend or Key • Compass Rose • Scale • Latitude & Longitude

24. Title & Key (Legend) • Map title tells you what the map is about • Example: the Population Distribution of Mexico • Key or Legend • Tells you what each symbol on a map means

25. Compass Rose • Compass Rose – tells you what direction the map is referring to • North does not always have to be toward the top of a page

26. Direction • Cardinal Directions – four main directions, they include • North • South • East • West

27. Direction • Intermediate Directions – Directions between the cardinal directions, they include • Northeast • Southeast • Northwest • Southwest

28. Scale • Scale – gives the comparison of real distance to the distance on a map. • Can be shown by ratio • Miles • kilometers

29. Distance • Distance on a map is measured by a scale • Ratios • Kilometers/miles Distance makes the actual distance of an area easy to find.

30. Hemispheres • When you look at the earth, you will find that it is broken into 4 sections. • These four sections are known as _______________. • A: Hemispheres • The four hemispheres are • Northern • Southern • Eastern • Western

31. Latitude & Longitude • Latitude & Longitude - helps you find an exact location on a map • The lines of latitude and longitude form a grid system • Grid systems use letters and numbers and do not give an exact location

32. Latitude & Longitude • Latitude & Longitude are the lines on a map or globe that allows you to find an exact point (location) • Lines of Latitude & Longitude criss-cross each other forming a grid.

33. Latitude • Also called parallels • Are measured from the equator • Equator is 0 degrees latitude • North Pole – highest point of latitude is 90 degrees Nlatitude. • South Pole – lowest point of latitude is 90 degrees S latitude. • The highest degree of latitude is 90 degrees. • Latitude lines measure northor south of the equator

34. Latitude • Tropic of Cancer – 23 ½ degrees North Latitude – This line distinguishes the end of the tropics in the Northern Hemisphere. • Tropic of Capricorn – 23 ½ degrees South Latitude – This line distinguishes the end of the tropics in the Southern Hemisphere. • Arctic Circle – 66 degrees North latitude • Antarctic Circle – 66 degrees South latitude

35. Longitude • Also called meridians • Are measured from the Prime Meridian • Prime Meridian is 0 degrees Longitude • International Dateline is 180 degrees Longitude (time zones) • Longitude lines measure left or right of the prime meridian • The highest degree of longitude is 180 degrees.

36. Latitude & Longitude • Always say latitude first • 45 N, 70 W Now lets practice (use pages RA2 & RA3 in textbook) 23 N, 45 E 66 S, 100 W Oman Antarctic Circle

37. Hemispheres • The four hemispheres are divided by the major lines of Latitude and Longitude. • Equator – divides the earth into the ________ & ____________ hemispheres. • A: Northern & Southern • Prime Meridian – divides the earth into the ___________ & _____________ hemispheres. • A: Eastern & Western

38. Hemispheres • Northern Hemisphere – above the equator • Southern Hemisphere – below the equator • Eastern Hemisphere – Right of the Prime Meridian • Western Hemisphere – Left of the Prime Meridian

39. Time Zones • ______________________ starting point for all time zone • A: Greenwich Mean Time • Ending point for the time zones is ____________________ • A: International Dateline • Each time zone is 15 Degrees apart on the earth’s surface. ( 0-14, 15-29, 30-44 etc) • Going east of GMT, time gets an hour later for each time zone. • Going West of GMT, time get an hour earlier for each time zone

40. Time Zones • The re are 4 time zones in the continental United States. • Eastern • Central • Mountain • Pacific Alaska & Hawaii are not included in these time zones, they have their own time zones.

41. Graphs • Bar Graphs • Line Graphs • Circle Graphs/Pie Charts • Pictograph