Map Basics
This map feature tells you what the map is about
What is the title?
This type of map shows boundaries between countries, states, and cities.
What is a political map?
These lines run horizontally and measure distance north or south of the Equator.
What is latitude?
These lines connect points that have the same elevation.
What are contour lines?
This technology uses satellites to provide precise location information.
What is GPS?
This part of a map explains what its symbols and colors mean.
What is the legend/key?
This type of map shows natural features such as mountains, rivers, valleys, and bodies of water.
What is a physical map?
These lines run vertically and measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
What is longitude?
This term means the height of land above or below sea level.
What is elevation?
This kind of map shows a small geographic area with a lot of detail.
What is a large-scale map?
This map feature shows the relationship between distance on a map and distance in the real world.
What is scale?
This type of map uses contour lines to show elevation and terrain.
What is a topographic map?
This imaginary line is located at 0° latitude.
What is the Equator?
Closely spaced contour lines indicate this type of terrain.
What is steep terrain?
This kind of map shows a large geographic area but with less detail.
What is a small-scale map?
This system divides a map into sections so users can locate exact points.
What is a grid system?
This type of map focuses on one specific subject, such as population, climate, or resources.
What is a thematic map?
This imaginary line is located at 0° longitude.
What is the Prime Meridian?
Widely spaced contour lines indicate this type of slope.
What is a gentle slope?
This process means aligning a map with actual directions in the real world.
What is map orientation?
This directional symbol identifies North, South, East, and West.
What is a compass rose?
Unlike a paper map, this type of map can provide interactive viewing and real-time updates.
What is a digital map?
Latitude and longitude work together as this type of system for pinpointing exact locations.
What is a coordinate system?
This is the vertical distance between one contour line and the next.
What is the contour interval?
This skill involves using maps to identify a starting point, destination, and best route between them.
What is navigation?