Map skills
Latitude and Longitude
Types of Maps:
Physical
Special Purpose
Political
Physical maps
Physical maps- shows physical
features of an area such as rivers or
mountains
Special
Purpose Maps
or Thematic Maps
Show s human
activities such
as territorial
expansion,
battle sites,
etc.
Political Maps
Generally show
political or
human made
divisions of
countries or
regions
Compass rose
Legend
Scale
Compass Rose (#8)
A device printed
on a map or chart
showing the
points of the
compass
measured from
true magnetic
north.
Legend or Map Key
Explains the
lines, symbols,
and colors
used on a map
Scale –
often called scale bar.
A measuring
line helps
determine the
distance on a
map.
Latitude and Longitude:
 Helps to locate absolute location (#7)
 An exact point on Earth (described by
global coordinates).
- Reading and plotting points of latitude
and longitude is similar to plotting and
reading points on a coordinate plane.
In order to understand
latitude lines you must
first learn about the
equator.
Equator (#3)
 Circles the Earth at it’s mid section
(like a belt).
 Measures Zero degrees ( 0⁰ ).
 Cuts the Earth into northern
hemisphere and southern
hemisphere.
The Equator
The Northern
Hemisphere
and
Southern
Hemisphere
Latitude Lines (#1)
·Run east to west (or left to right).
·Measure in degrees north and
south of the Equator.
Latitude lines measure in degrees from the
Equator.
Starting at the equator: travel “up,” degrees
increase and are north (N)
Starting at the equator : travel “down,” the
degrees increase and are south (S)
Latitude lines
are also called
parallels (#6)
To understand
Longitude lines
you must learn
about the Prime
Meridian
Prime Meridian (#4)
 Measures 0⁰ degrees .
 Runs north to south
(or up and down) from
the poles and runs
through Greenwich,
England.
 Cuts the globe into
western hemisphere
and eastern
hemisphere.
Longitude lines measure east and
west of the Prime Meridian (#2)
Longitude
lines Are
also called
meridians
(#5)
Lines of Longitude (Meridians)
•Starting at the Prime
Meridian: Travel to the
left, the number of
degrees increase and
are WEST.
•Starting at the Prime
Meridian : Travel to the
right, the number of
degrees increase and
are EAST.
By using latitude and
longitude lines, we can
find Absolute Location!!!
Which is the exact place
somewhere is on the earth.
Absolute Location means finding
the intersection of the latitude
and longitude lines.
Let’s find
Purcellville!
Measure latitude lines first: - 39° N
Measure longitude lines second: - 77° W
Together it is written:
39°N latitude, 77°W longitude
How accurate was I?????
I said it was:
39°N latitude, 77°W longitude
The exact coordinate is:
39° 8' 12" N / 77° 42' 53" W
 ’ = minutes (1.15 miles)
 ” = seconds (approx. 100 ft)