Map Basics

6th Grade Geography

Map Legend

Maps are the basic tools of geography. A good map will have a legend or key which will show the user what different symbols mean. 

Inset Map

A small map set within a larger map. An inset map might show a detailed part of the map at a larger scale, or the extent of the existing map drawn at a smaller scale within the context of a larger area.

Map Scale

The ratio or relationship between a distance or area on a map and the corresponding distance or area on the ground, commonly expressed as a fraction or ratio. A map scale of 1/100,000 or 1:100,000 means that one unit of measure on the map equals 100,000 of the same unit on the earth.

Compass Rose

A compass rose shows directions on a map. north (N), east (E), west (W) and south (S).

Physical Maps

Physical maps are majorly utilized to represent the physical features like various landforms and water bodies present on the Earth's surface. Different colors, lines, tints, shading and spot elevations are used to show the elevation and to differentiate lowlands from the mountains in physical maps.

Political Maps

Political maps are designed to show governmental boundaries of countries, states, and counties, the location of major cities, and they usually include significant bodies of water. Like the sample on the right, bright colors are often used to help the user find the borders.

Topographic Maps

Show elevation by the use of contour lines and the horizontal position of terrain features and land formations.

Map Projections

A map projection is a mathematical expression that is used to represent the round, 3D surface of the Earth on a flat, 2D map.

Latitude Lines

Latitude (shown as a horizontal line) is the angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds of a point north or south of the Equator. Lines of latitude are often referred to as parallels. 

Longitude Lines

Longitude (shown as a vertical line) is the angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds, of a point east or west of the Prime (Greenwich) Meridian. Lines of longitude are often referred to as meridians. 

Colliding Continents

National Geographic Video

The Grand Canyon

Water is a vital natural resource, particularly in the arid southwest. Most of the flow of the Colorado River through Grand Canyon originates in the Rocky Mountain region. From its origin to its mouth in the Gulf of California, many hands have claimed the Colorado waters for such purposes as irrigation and water supply. 

Plate Tectonics

Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that attempts to explain the movements of the Earth's lithosphere that have formed the landscape features we see across the globe today. By definition the word "plate" in geologic terms means a large slab of solid rock. "Tectonics" is a part of the Greek root for "to build" and together the terms define how the Earth's surface is built up of moving plates.

Supercontinents

The most recent supercontinent, and the only one most people are familiar with, is Pangaea, which dominated Earth from about 300 to 150 million years ago. There are a few ways we know of its existence. There's the fact that species from this time showed relatively little diversity, no matter how far apart they were geographically, which indicates they weren't isolated from one another by oceans.

The Earth’s Crust

The first layer consists of about 10 miles (16km) of rock and loose materials scientists call the crust. Underneath the continents, the crust is almost three times as thick as it is under the oceans.

The Earth’s Mantle

The mantle extends to a depth of approximately 1,800 miles (2897km), and is made of a thick, solid, rocky substance that represents about 85% of the total weight and mass of the Earth.

The Earth’s Outer Core

It extends to a depth of around 3000 mile (4828km) beneath the surface. It is believed that this outer core is made up of super-heated liquid molten lava. This lava is believed to be mostly iron, led and nickel.

The Earth’s Inner Core

Finally, we would reach the Earth’s inner core. The inner core extends another 900 miles (1448km) toward the center of the Earth. It is believed that this inner core is a solid ball of mostly iron and nickel.