Map Features and Keys
Principal Parallels (Latitude)
Meridians and Globes
Compass and Directions
Relative Location and Continents
100
This part of a map explains what different colors, symbols, and dark lines represent.
What is a Map Key (or Legend)?
100
This major line of latitude sits at 0 degrees and splits the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
What is the Equator?
100
Unlike a flat map, this 3D model represents the Earth as a sphere.
What is a globe?
100
This intermediate direction is located directly halfway between North and East.
What is Northeast (NE)?
100
This continent lies entirely North of the Equator and West of the Prime Meridian. It contains the United States.
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What is North America?
200
You look at a map of the United States and see dark, solid lines separating different states. You are looking at this specific type of map.
What is a political map?
200
These imaginary lines run horizontally (East to West) across a globe and measure distance North or South of the Equator.
What are parallels (or lines of latitude)?
200
These imaginary lines run vertically from the North Pole to the South Pole.\
What are Meridians (or Lines of Longitude)?
200
If you travel from the United States down toward South America, you are traveling in this general cardinal direction.
What is South?
200
Look at the world map. The Equator cuts straight through the middle of this large continent.
What is Africa?
300
Look at a map where dark blue areas show high rainfall and light yellow areas show dry climates. This map layer measures what type of weather event?
What is a precipitation map?
300
Name the principal parallel that sits directly North of the equator at roughly 23.5 degrees North.
What is the Tropic of Cancer?
300
This main line of Longitude sits at 0 degrees and passes through Europe and Africa to divide the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
What is the Prime Meridian?
300
The intermediate direction located directly halfway between South and West.
What is Southwest (SW)?
300
The ocean that sits directly to the East of South America is known as this ocean.
What is the Atlantic Ocean?
400
On an 8-point compass rose, the four letters N, S, E, and W stand for these directions.
What are Cardinal Directions (North, South, East, West)?
400
This principal parallel sits near the very top of the globe, surrounding the North Pole.
What is the Arctic Circle?
400
Look at the globe image. The equator and prime Meridian cross each other in this major ocean off the west coast of Africa.
What is the Atlantic Ocean?
400
Look at the world map. If you put your finger on Africa and move towards Europe you are traveling in this direction.
What is North?
400
Compared to the United States, the continent of Europe is located in this direction across the Atlantic Ocean.
What is Northeast (or East)?
500
This map tool helps you figure out real-world distances between two places on a paper map.
What is a Map Scale?
500
Name the principal parallel that sits directly South of the equator at roughly 23.5 degrees South.
What is the Tropic of Capricorn?
500
If you travel all the way to the very bottom of a globe at 90 degrees South, you are standing inside this frigid line of latitude.
What is the Antarctic Circle?
500
If you are standing on the Prime Meridian and travel toward the United States, you are moving in this cardinal direction.
What is West?
500
This large ocean sits to the West of North and South America.
What is the Pacific Ocean?