How do modern mapping tools help us to understand
the world we live in?
Confluence
Activity
* Use the following slides to facilitate this enrichment activity in class. If your students
need a review of absolute and relative location or how to read theme maps, conduct the
lessons 1 & 2 from Geography Alive! Regions and People. Learn more about that
program here: http://www.teachtci.com/programs/middle_school/regions_and_people/
Preview: Which of the following tools would is best to research an exact location?
Be prepared to share which tool (no right answer) and why.
A. Printed Map
B. Compass
C. Hand-held GPS
D. Computer/Tablet
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Let’s review:
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Let’s review:
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Vegetation Zones of the World
Let’s review:
Together, latitude and longitude create a global grid that
allows geographers to find absolute location.
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Vegetation Zones of the World
A confluence is defined as a flowing together; a meeting place (often
of rivers). In our case a degree confluence is the exact spot where an
integer degree of latitude and an integer degree of longitude meet,
such as 43°00'00"N 72°00'00"W.
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All of the 64,442 possible confluences have been assigned to one of
three categories:
Land (21,543)
Water (38,409)
Ice Cap (4,490).
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In this activity, you will use a confluence website:
http://confluence.org
to take you to an absolute location. You will see several pictures as
well as background information on the location. From the search, you
will use the website along with vegetation zone maps to complete a
matrix of degree confluences.
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1. Each person needs a copy of the matrix of degree
confluences.
2. From your teacher, get a copy of one degree
confluence that gives an absolute location.
3. Locate the place using either the theme maps
around the room (arranged by region) or from the
website: http://confluence.org.
• To search an exact location using the website
click on the left side where it says “search” on
the navigation menu.
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4. Study the images and information on the website
for that location.
5. Study the regional vegetation map of this location.
6. Complete the appropriate row for that location on
your matrix.
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Confluence
1.
23o N, 23o E
Vegetation Zone
Desert
Country
Libya
Continent
Africa
Extra Credit
How did the photographer get here?
Your Answer Here
2.
What happened to the photographer’s car?
3.
This confluence is north and west of Los Angeles. What city
is that?
4.
What is the population density here according to the report?
5.
What did the photographer say you need in order to find a
confluence?
6.
Why can’t you see very far in these photographs?
7.
What famous meridian is this confluence on?
8.
What are the three colors of the three explorers of this
confluence?
9.
What gave the photographer trouble getting to this
confluence?
10.
What can happen to your lips in this environment?
11.
What language is this post written in?
12.
Name four countries that staked a claim here.
broadleaf evergreen forest / chaparral / coniferous / deciduous forest / desert / desert scrub / highlands / ice cap / mixed / temperate grassland / tropical grassland / tundra
7. Return the slip with absolute location to your
teacher and receive a new one. Repeat process.
(They might be out of numerical order, so be sure
you write in the correct location on your matrix).
8. Be prepared to share your responses with the class
after some time.
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Confluence
Images
1
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
23o N, 23o E
Desert
Libya
Africa
2
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
31o S, 129o E
Desert scrub
Australia
Australia
3
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
35o N, 120o W
Chaparral
United States, CA
North America
4
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
43o N, 100o W
Temperate grassland
United States, NE
North America
5
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
15o S, 27o E
Tropical grassland
Zambia
Africa
6
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
3o S, 59o W
Broadleaf evergreen forest
Brazil
South America
7
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
51o N, 0o
Deciduous
England
Europe
8
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
57o N, 121o W
Coniferous
Canada, BC
North America
9
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
37o N, 138o E
Mixed (coniferous, deciduous)
Japan
Asia
10
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
30o N, 90o E
Highlands
China/Tibet
Asia
11
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
68o N, 76o E
Tundra
Russia
Asia
12
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
90o S
Ice cap
*********
Antarctica
Processing
* Print the following pages back to back and give as an out-of-class assignment.
Processing Assignment
1. Using the website http://confluence.org as a
tool, research the closest confluence to your
home.
2. Prepare a placard that has:
• An image of the location.
• The absolute location (coordinates).
• A brief description of the place including
details about the vegetation zone.
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Confluences
Slips
*Make two – three copies and cut out. It is not necessary for pairs of students to work in
numerical order.
1
2
3
4
5
6
23o
31o
35o
43o
N,
23o
S,
129o
N,
120o
N,
100o
15o
S,
27o
E
E
W
W
E
3o S, 59o W
7
8
9
10
51o N, o
57o N, 121o W
37o N, 138o E
30o N, 90o E
11
68o N, 76o E
12
90o S
Student
Handout
*Make a copy for each student.
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
Extra Credit
1.
How did the photographer get here?
2.
What happened to the photographer’s car?
3.
This confluence is north and west of Los Angeles. What city
is that?
4.
What is the population density here according to the report?
5.
What did the photographer say you need in order to find a
confluence?
6.
Why can’t you see very far in these photographs?
7.
What famous meridian is this confluence on?
8.
What are the three colors of the three explorers of this
confluence?
9.
What gave the photographer trouble getting to this
confluence?
10.
What can happen to your lips in this environment?
11.
What language is this post written in?
12.
Name four countries that staked a claim here.
broadleaf evergreen forest / chaparral / coniferous / deciduous forest / desert / desert scrub / highlands / ice cap / mixed / temperate grassland / tropical grassland / tundra
Answer Key
Confluence
Vegetation Zone
Country
Continent
Extra Credit
1. 23o N, 23o E
Desert
Libya
Africa
How did the photographer get here?
Rovers.
In jeeps/Land
2. 31o S, 129o E
Desert scrub
Australia
Australia
What happened to the photographer’s car?
tire.
3. 35o N, 120o W
Chaparral
USA, CA
North America
This confluence is north and west of Los Angeles. What city
is that? Santa Barbara, CA
4. 43o N, 100o W
Temperate grassland
USA, NE
North America
What is the population density here according to the report?
2 to 20 people per square mile
5. 15o S, 27o E
Tropical grassland
Zambia
Africa
What did the photographer say you need in order to find a
confluence? A real good explorer/guide to go with
you.
6. 3o S, 59o W
Broadleaf evergreen
forest
Brazil
South America
Why can’t you see very far in these photographs?
Because the rain forest is so dense.
7. 51o N, o
Deciduous forest
England
Europe
What famous meridian is this confluence on? Prime
meridian
8. 57o N, 121o W
Coniferous
Canada, BC
North America
What are the three colors of the three explorers of this
confluence?
Grey, orange, blue
9. 37o N, 138o E
Mixed (coniferous,
deciduous)
Japan
Asia
What gave the photographer trouble getting to this
confluence? Dense, almost jungle-like grass.
10. 30o N, 90o E
Highlands
Tibet/China
Asia
What can happen to your lips in this environment? The
cold and altitude can make them swell.
11. 68o N, 76o E
Tundra
Russia
Asia
What language is this post written in?
12. 90o S
Ice Cap
********
Antarctica
Name four countries that staked a claim here. USA,
Britain, Chile, Argentina, France, Germany
It got a flat
Russian
broadleaf evergreen forest / chaparral / coniferous / deciduous forest / desert / desert scrub / highlands / ice cap / mixed / temperate grassland / tropical grassland / tundra
Vegetation
Zone Maps
*Print 1 copy of each out and tape up around the room.