Five Themes of Geography
The study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth.
Geography
A two-dimensional graphic representation of selected parts of the earth's surface.
Map
A (large) landmass above water on the earth.
Continent
The continuous circulation of water among the atmosphere, the oceans, and the earth.
Hydrologic Cycle
A fracture in the earth's crust.
Fault
A set of imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator, and that are used in locating places north or south.
Latitude
A three-dimensional representation of the earth.
Globe
The molten rock material formed when solid rock in the earth's mantle or crust melts.
Magma
The water held under the earth's surface, often in and around the pores of rock.
Ground Water
The point on the earth's surface that corresponds to the location in the earth where an earthquake begins.
Epicenter
Describes a place in relation to other places around it.
Relative Location
Another word for mapmaker
Cartographer
The solid rock portion of the earth's surface.
Lithosphere
The difference in elevation of a landform from the lowest point to the highest point.
Relief
The chain of volcanoes that lines the Pacific Rim.
Ring of Fire
A set of imaginary lines that go around the earth over the poles, dividing it east and west.
Longitude
A way of mapping the earth's surface that reduces distortion caused by converting three dimensions into two dimensions.
Map Projection
A rock layer about 1,800 miles thick that is between the earth's crust and the earth's core.
Mantle
An area drained by a major river and its tributaries.
Drainage Basin
The changing of landforms by slowly moving glaciers.
Glaciation
The imaginary line at zero meridian used to measure longitude east to west, and dividing the earth's east and west halves.
Prime Meridian
This type of map emphasizes specific kinds of information, such as climate or population density
Thematic Map
All the parts of the earth where plants and animals live.
Biosphere
The combined characteristics of landforms and their distribution in a region.
Topography
This type of plate boundary is where plates collide, causing either one plate to dive under the other or the edges of both plates to crumple.
Convergent Boundary