Mapping 101
A map is a drawing created to represent the world or a part of the world's surface. Maps show
where physical or natural features, such as lakes and mountains, are found. They also show
where human or political features, such as cities and country boundaries, are located.
Open your atlas to the World Reference Map on p. 6/7. Note the different colours and various
fonts used. The mapmaker chose the size and shape of each letter or symbol purposefully.
Why do you think some things are labelled in all caps? boldface? italics? Why are some things
labeled horizontally and others are vertical? Why are some cities labelled with a thick dot? thin
dot? star?
Symbols like dots • or stars
or
mountain ranges, etc. shown on maps.
are used to represent the features like cities, capitals,
Lines may represent things like borders, boundaries or rivers. Colours show the area or
boundaries between countries. Blue is only used to symbolize water (lakes, oceans, rivers, etc).
Map makers do not want people to guess about the meaning of symbols used on maps so most
maps include a key or legend. Note the legend located in the bottom left corner of page 6. The
legend lists the symbols used on the map and tells us what the symbols represent. Examining
the map legend will help you understand the meaning of the symbols used on that map.
Every map should have a title, a legend, a compass rose and a scale. The scale is important to
know the distance between points on the map.
If you were flying in a plane, how far is it from Vancouver, BC Canada to Anchorage, Alaska,
USA? __________________ km
The compass rose tells you which way is North.
Label the compass rose with North at the top.
The Equator 0° is an imaginary line that bisects the world into two halves – northern and
southern hemispheres. Which continents are located in the northern hemisphere?
______________________________________________________________________________
Which continents are located in the southern hemisphere?
______________________________________________________________________________
Which continents are located in both?
______________________________________________________________________________
The Prime Meridian 0° is an imaginary line that bisects the world into two halves – western and
eastern hemispheres. Which continents are in the eastern hemisphere?
______________________________________________________________________________
Which continents are in the western hemisphere?
______________________________________________________________________________
Which continents are in both?
______________________________________________________________________________
Latitude (horizontal lines) and Longitude (vertical lines) tell you locations in relation to the
Equator (0°) and the Prime Meridian (0°). Latitude (x-axis) is always listed first.
What city is located at 36°N, 140°E? _______________________________________
What group of islands is located near 0°, 100°W ________________________ Islands
Sydney, NSW, Australia is located at _________°S, _________°E
Vancouver, BC, Canada is located at _________°N, _________°W
The Prime Meridian goes right through the city of London, UK. London’s latitude is 52°N.
Without looking at your atlas, what is it’s longitude? _________°
Bonus: If Sochi, Russia is located on the east coast of the Black Sea, North of the country of
Georgia, and the Olympic ski hill is in the Caucasus Mountains…What is Sochi’s approximate
latitude and longitude? ______________________________________