Maps Are Basically a Graphic Representation of Earth . They Are Used to Find Where Places

Reading Maps

Maps are basically a “graphic representation of Earth”. They are used to find where places are located in the world (geographic), to get directions from one place to another (GPS), to determine upcoming weather, to determine the shape of the land (topographic), the types of rocks found in different locations of the world (geologic),and to determine the type of soil found in different locations of the world (soil).

Maps are organized by using vertical (up-and-down) and horizontal (side-to-side) lines that create a grid that is similar to graph paper. Horizontal lines are called latitude, and vertical lines are called longitude. The main line of latitude is call the Equator and is found running west to east through the center of Earth. The Prime Meridian is the main line of longitude that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole at the 0o mark (goes through Great Britain, Europe, and Africa). On the opposite side of Earth, at 180o longitude is the International Date Line.

All lines of latitude that are located above the Equator are labeled as “North” (or positive, +) and lines that are below the Equator are labeled “South” (or negative, -). Similarity, lines of longitude that are on the right of the Prime Meridian are called “East” (or positive) and lines that are to the left of the Prime Meridian are called “West” (or negative).

Degrees North (o) / 5
4
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4 5
Degrees East (o)

All lines of latitude and longitude are represented by a number based on how many degrees each line is away from the Equator or Prime Meridian. For example, Charlotte has the coordinates of 35o13’N, 80o48’W. This means that Charlotte is on the that 35o and 13 “minutes” North of the Equator and 80o and 48 “minutes” east of the Prime Meridian. Similar to an hour, each degree is broken down into 60 parts or “minutes”. Minutes are represented by an apostrophe (‘) that follows the number of minutes. Finally, the directions are to be included after the numbers for each direction, either North or South and East or West.

Finding the location of a specific place on a map is similar to reading a point on a graph. On the graph to the right, you will find a star. The center of the star is located at the 4.5o North and 5o East. On a map, the point will be located in the same way; the only difference is that maps are read on the y-axis (North or South) first, then on the x-axis (East or West). Below is a map with 5triangles on it, which are labeled A, B, C, D, and E. Determine the coordinates of each place and record them below.

Activity 1

Point A23oN, 157oW

Point B ______

Point C ______

Point D ______

Point E ______

Along with the places that are located around the world, we also find legends (or keys), a scale, and the compass rose on a map. The compass rose shows which way on the amp is in the direction of North, South, East, and West. Typically, North will be at the top and South will be at the bottom; while West will be to the left and East will be to the right. This is shown on the compass rose to the right. A legend, or key, will explain the symbols that can be found on a map and what they represent. To the left is a sample legend for the symbols that could be used on a street map in a coastal area. Finally, a scale is found. The scale explains how much of the paper represents a specific distance on Earth. For example, the scale to the right tells us that the space on the map between the 0 miles mark and the next tick mark will equal 100 miles on Earth. Below is a map followed by a list of places that need to be placed on the map. Follow the directions as they are given below.

1. In black, draw in the Equator, the Tropic of Cancer (30oN), and the Tropic of Capricorn (30oS).

2. In red, draw in the Prime Meridian and the International Date Line (180oW/E).

3. In green, label the names of the continents; in blue, label the names of the oceans.

4. In purple, mark the positions of each of the following places by use the letter given before each city name.

a. Beijing: 40oN, 116oE

b. Cairo: 30oN, 31oE

c. Jakarta: 6oS, 106oE

d. Los Angeles: 34oN, 118oW

e. London: 51oN, 0oW

f. Mexico City: 19oN, 99oW

g. Moscow: 55oN, 37oE

h. New Orleans: 30oN, 90oW

i. New York City: 40oN, 74oW

j. Rio de Janeiro: 23oS, 43oW

k. Toronto: 43oN, 79oW

The United States of America – Mapping Practice

1. Label N (north), S (south), E (east), and W (west) on the compass rose near the bottom right of the map.

2. Label Canada (the country north of the USA) and Mexico (the country south of the USA).

3. Label the Atlantic Ocean (east of the USA), the Pacific Ocean (west of the USA), the Gulf of Mexico (bordering the southeastern USA and eastern Mexico) and the Great Lakes (in the northeast section of the USA).

4. Color the bodies of water blue, color your state red, color the rest of the USA orange, color Canada yellow, and color Mexico green.

5. The location 26oN, 105oW is in which country? ______

6. Is the location 35oN latitude, 75oW longitude in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean? ______

7. Which state is located at 38oN latitude, 105oW longitude? ______

8. Is the location 30oN, 87oW on land or under water? ______

9. The location 43oN, 75oW is in which state? ______

10. Name the state whose border is at 35oN. ______

11. Do lines of latitude run West-East or North-South? ______

12. Name 3 states whose borders extend below 30oN and label them on the map.

a. ______

b. ______

c. ______

13. Name 1 US state that is mostly East of 70oW. ______

14. Name 3 US states whose borders extend West of 120oW. ______

15. Is the location 45oN, 82oW on land or under water? ______

16. Name the state that is located entirely between 40 and 45oN and between 90 and 100oW. Label it on the map. ______

Reading Maps – Map 3

1. What is the capital of N. Carolina? ______

2. What ocean borders N. Carolina on the East? ______

3. What state borders N. Carolina to the North? ______

4. What state borders N. Carolina on the West? ______

5. What 2 states border N. Carolina on the South? ______

6. Name the mountain range located in the western part of N. Carolina. ______

7. What is the name of the tallest mountain in N. Carolina? ______

8. Name 2 rivers found in N. Carolina. ______

9. Name the town from which the Wright brothers successfully flew the world’s first airplane in 1903. It is located on an island off the coast of northeastern N. Carolina. ______

10. What is the nickname of N. Carolina? ______

Reading Maps

Degrees North (o) / 5
4
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4 5
Degrees East (o)

Activity 1

Point A23oN, 157oW

Point B 35oN, 105oW

Point C 20oN, 70oW

Point D 40oN, 15oE

Point E 42oN, 115oE

Below is a map followed by a list of places that need to be placed on the map. Follow the directions as they are given below.

17. In black, draw in the Equator, the Tropic of Cancer (30oN), and the Tropic of Capricorn (30oS).

18. In red, draw in the Prime Meridian and the International Date Line (180oW/E).

19. In green, label the names of the continents; in blue, label the names of the oceans.

20. In purple, mark the positions of each of the following places by use the letter given before each city name.

1. Beijing: 40oN, 116oE

2. Cairo: 30oN, 31oE

3. Jakarta: 6oS, 106oE

4. Los Angeles: 34oN, 118oW

5. London: 51oN, 0oW

6. Mexico City: 19oN, 99oW

7. Moscow: 55oN, 37oE

8. New Orleans: 30oN, 90oW

9. New York City: 40oN, 74oW

10. Rio de Janeiro: 23oS, 43oW

11. Toronto: 43oN, 79oW

The United States of America – Mapping Practice

1. Label N (north), S (south), E (east), and W (west) on the compass rose near the bottom right of the map.

2. Label Canada (the country north of the USA) and Mexico (the country south of the USA).

4. Label each state on the map.

5. Color the bodies of water blue, color your state red, color the rest of the USA orange, color Canada yellow, and color Mexico green.

Reading Maps – Map 1

1. What is the capital city of the USA? Washington D.C.

2. What country borders the USA to the North? Canada

3. What country borders the USA to the South? Mexico

4. What ocean borders the USA to the West? Pacific Ocean

5. What ocean borders the USA to the East? Atlantic Ocean

6. What large body of water (a gulf) borders the USA on the Southeast? Gulf of Mexico

7. What are the huge lakes in the Northeast USA called? Great Lakes

8. What is the name of the large mountain range in the Western USA that runs from Canada to Texas? Rocky Mountains

9. What is the name of the large mountain range in the Eastern USA? Appalachian Mountains

10. What is the name of the large river that flows North to South through the USA? Mississippi River

Reading Maps – Map 2

1. The location 26oN, 105oW is in which country? Mark the spot on the map with a black X. Mexico

2. Is the location 35oN latitude, 75oW longitude in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean? Mark it on the map with a green X. Atlantic

3. On the map, label the location 38oN latitude, 105oW longitude with a red X and write the name of the state.Colorado

4. Is the location 30oN, 87oW on land or under water? Mark it on the map with a blue X. Under water (Gulf of Mexico)

5. The location 43oN, 75oW is in which state? On the map, write the state’s name. New York