Maps

1. Maps Directions Distance Reading maps Reading map legends Latitude & Longitude

2. What are maps? •  Maps are pictures or representations of the Earth's surface.  • They show how places are related to each other by distance, direction, and size.  • Maps are a way of showing a part of the Earth's surface on a flat piece of paper.

3. What happens when you make a flat map of our round earth? • Maps are flat but they are made to represent an area that is on a sphere, Earth.  • This can cause what is called distortion (changes in the shape of an object).  • The areas of a map closest to the equator have little distortion.  • The closer a map moves towards the poles the more distorted the map becomes.  • For example, Greenland appears to be much larger on a map than it really is.

4. What is distortion? • Maps are flat but they are made to represent an area that is on a sphere, Earth.  • This can cause what is called distortion (changes in the shape of an object).  • The areas of a map closest to the equator have little distortion.  • The closer a map moves towards the poles the more distorted the map becomes.  • For example, Greenland appears to be much larger on a map than it really is.

5. Who is a cartographer? • A person who makes maps is called a cartographer.

6. What is a compass rose? • A map includes a compass rose that shows direction.  • Cardinal Directions are the four base parts on a compass. • The top point is called north and the point at the bottom is south. • The side points are called east and west.  • The points in between the cardinal directions are called intermediate directions. • These include northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast.

7. What are cardinal directions? • A map includes a compass rose that shows direction.  • Cardinal Directions are the four base parts on a compass. • The top point is called north and the point at the bottom is south. • The side points are called east and west.  • The points in between the cardinal directions are called intermediate directions. • These include northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast.

8. What are intermediate directions? • A map includes a compass rose that shows direction.  • Cardinal Directions are the four base parts on a compass. • The top point is called north and the point at the bottom is south. • The side points are called east and west.  • The points in between the cardinal directions are called intermediate directions. • These include northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast.

9. Do you know: North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest?

10. Do you know: North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest? North Northwest Northeast West East Southwest Southeast South

11. North & South? North South

12. East & West West East

13. Northeast & Northwest Northwest Northeast

14. Southeast& Southwest Southwest Southeast

15. Map Keys • Maps have keys.  • The objects on a map are represented using symbols. • A symbol is a picture on the map that represents something in the real world. • To understand the symbols on a map you need a key. • Maps use a key, or legend to explain the meaning of each of the symbols used in the map. • The key usually shows a small picture of each of the symbols used on the map, along with a written description of the meaning of each symbol.

16. There are many map symbols . . . Source: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YU8ZYhiv17g/TdaIXnqtEhI/AAAAAAAADGg/vcyYyfpDXkw/s1600/map_symbols1.gif

17. How can you find locations on the Earth’s surface? • We can identify locations on the Earth's surface by using a grid system of latitude and longitude. • Latitude gives a north and south direction and longitude gives an east and west direction.  • This system helps us in measuring distances and finding directions between places on the Earth's surface. • The starting point is the prime meridian, with represents 0º longitude. • The exact opposite position at 180º is called the International Date Line, which is where the date actually changes.

18. What is Latitude? • We can identify locations on the Earth's surface by using a grid system of latitude and longitude. • Latitude gives a north and south direction and longitude gives an east and west direction.  • This system helps us in measuring distances and finding directions between places on the Earth's surface. • The starting point is the prime meridian, with represents 0º longitude. • The exact opposite position at 180º is called the International Date Line, which is where the date actually changes.

19. What is longitude? • We can identify locations on the Earth's surface by using a grid system of latitude and longitude. • Latitude gives a north and south direction and longitude gives an east and west direction.  • (Longitude are the LONG lines) • This system helps us in measuring distances and finding directions between places on the Earth's surface. • The starting point is the prime meridian, with represents 0º longitude. • The exact opposite position at 180º is called the International Date Line, which is where the date actually changes.

20. How do we use the system of longitude and latitude? • We can identify locations on the Earth's surface by using a grid system of latitude and longitude. • Latitude gives a north and south direction and longitude gives an east and west direction.  • This system helps us in measuring distances and finding directions between places on the Earth's surface. • The starting point is the prime meridian, with represents 0º longitude. • The exact opposite position at 180º is called the International Date Line, which is where the date actually changes.

21. What is Prime Meridian? • We can identify locations on the Earth's surface by using a grid system of latitude and longitude. • Latitude gives a north and south direction and longitude gives an east and west direction.  • This system helps us in measuring distances and finding directions between places on the Earth's surface. • The starting point is the Prime Meridian, with represents 0º longitude. • The exact opposite position at 180º is called the International Date Line, which is where the date actually changes.

22. What is the International Date Line? • We can identify locations on the Earth's surface by using a grid system of latitude and longitude. • Latitude gives a north and south direction and longitude gives an east and west direction.  • This system helps us in measuring distances and finding directions between places on the Earth's surface. • The starting point is the prime meridian, with represents 0º longitude. • The exact opposite position at 180º is called the International Date Line, which is where the date actually changes.

23. What is a climate map? • Climate Maps - give general information about the climate and precipitation (rain and snow) of a region. • Cartographers, or mapmakers, use colors to show different climate or precipitation zones.

24. What are economic or resource maps? •  Economic or Resource Maps - feature the major types of natural resources or economic activity in an area. • Cartographers use symbols to show the locations of natural resources or economic activities. • For example, wheat on a map of Maryland tells you that wheat is grown there.

25. What is a physical map? • Physical Maps - illustrate the physical features of an area, such as the mountains, rivers and lakes. • The water is usually shown in blue. Colors are used to show relief—differences in land elevations. • Green is usually used at lower elevations, and orange or brown show higher elevations.

26. What are Street or Road Maps? • Street Maps/Road Maps - street maps illustrate smaller areas such as towns and cities.  • People use street maps to find directions to a place they want to go. • A road map shows the highways or interstates.  • These maps are also used to find directions.

27. Political Maps • Political Maps - do not show physical features. • Instead, they show state and national boundaries and capital and major cities. • A capital city is usually marked with a star within a circle.

28. What is a topographic map? • Topographic Maps - include contour lines to show the shape and elevation of an area. • Lines that are close together show steep terrain, and lines that are far apart show flat terrain.  • Many hikers use topographic maps, especially in areas where there are no roads with signs. • Geologists depend on topographic maps to record the types of rocks. • Engineers use topographic maps when they are planning roads, buildings, or other human–made structures.

29. What does it mean when the lines are close together? • Topographic Maps - include contour lines to show the shape and elevation of an area. • Lines that are close together show steep terrain, and lines that are far apart show flat terrain.  • Many hikers use topographic maps, especially in areas where there are no roads with signs. • Geologists depend on topographic maps to record the types of rocks. • Engineers use topographic maps when they are planning roads, buildings, or other human–made structures.

30. How would a topographic map be used? • Topographic Maps - include contour lines to show the shape and elevation of an area. • Lines that are close together show steep terrain, and lines that are far apart show flat terrain.  • Many hikers use topographic maps, especially in areas where there are no roads with signs. • Geologists depend on topographic maps to record the types of rocks. • Engineers use topographic maps when they are planning roads, buildings, or other human–made structures.

31. What are map scales? •  Maps have scales.  • Maps are scaled down so that they fit on paper. • When scaling down a map, every part of the map is scaled by the same amount. • This is done to make sure that every object on the map is the same proportion as everything else on the map.  • Because the Earth is round, and maps are flat, it is impossible to create a map with a perfect scale. • Some parts of the map will be too large, while others will be too small.

32. What is a scale? A scale is something that tells you how the distance on the map compares to the distance on the ground. Source: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/scale.html

33. What is a representative fraction? One unit of length on the map represents 500,000 of that same unit on the ground. For example, 1 inch on the map = 500,000 inches on the ground. One cm on the map represents 500,000 cms on the ground. And so on. Source: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/scale.html

34. What is a bar scale? A bar scale is a graphic representation of distance. It shows, visually, what distance on the map represents a unit of distance on the ground. In this case, the distances on the map that represent miles and kilometers are shown. Source: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/scale.html

35. What is statement of equivalency? A statement of equivalency is how many miles on the ground one inch on the map represents. Take Representative Fraction 1:500,000 500,000/63,360 inches per mile = 7.89 so 1 inch = 7.9 miles Source: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/scale.html

36. Sample of Statement of equivalency Source: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/scale.html

37. Sample of Bar Scale Source: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/scale.html

38. Sample of Statement of equivalency Source: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/scale.html