MAPS

Earth

Road Map of US

Fallingwater

Projections
• All maps are projections of the Earth’s curved surface onto a flat page.

Distortion
• Because maps represent a curved, 3dimensional, surface on a flat, 2-dimensional surface, there is always distortion: all maps are wrong in some way!
• Distortion: Inaccuracies on all maps because of projection.
• Maps can distort the size, shape, direction, and distance.
• “All maps lie flat and all flat maps lie.”

Conic Projection

Azimuthal Projection

5 Things on a Map (B.O.L.T.S)
• B. Borders
• O. Orientation
• L. Legend
• T. title
• S. scale

Borders

Orientation

Compass Rose
• A design on a map that shows direction: north, east, south and west.
North is always at the top of the compass rose; south is always at the bottom.

Legend

Map Legend
• The legend will tell what type of information is found on a map and the meaning of symbols.
• Symbols can change from map to map. There are both line symbols and point symbols. Font can also be used to distinguish important information on a map.
• Maps can have more than one legend.

Title
• Put a title on your map

Scale

Longitude/Latitude
• Latitudes: Lines that run east and west around the Earth. These lines measure distances north and south of the Equator.
• Longitudes: Lines that run from the North
Pole to the South Pole. These lines measure distances east and west of the Prime
Meridian.
• *** When determining a point of intersection, latitude is read always first.

Equator/Prime Meridian
• Equator: An imaginary line drawn halfway between the North & South poles.
(0° latitude)
• Prime Meridian: An imaginary line drawn from the North Pole to the
South Pole. (0° longitude)

Tropics
• Two lines of latitude are known as tropics: The
Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and the Tropic of
Capricorn. (23.5°S)
• The area is know for a relatively constant amount of sunlight throughout the year.
• Usually countries in the tropics have a wet season and a dry season.

Latitude and Longitude Practice

LOCATION
Where are we?
• Absolute Location
– A latitude and longitude
(global location) or a street address (local location).
– Paris France is 48 o North
Latitude and 2 o East
Longitude.
– The White House is located at 1600
Pennsylvania Ave.
• Relative Location
– Described by landmarks, time, direction or distance. From one place to another.
– Go 1 mile west on main street and turn left for 1 block.