Maps and Map Projections

Map Projections-A globe is the most accurate portrayal of the Earth and the size of its land masses

-For obvious reasons, globes are not as convenient as flat maps (i.e. size, shape)

-However, there is difficulty portraying a spherical object on a flat surface

-For that reason, three map projections have been developed to portray what we see on a globe

-Interrupted, Mercator and Mollweide

Mercator-Mercator maps are most commonly used however drastically distort objects farther away from the equator.

Mollweide-Mollweide distorts landmasses however not the proportions of those continents and countries.

Interrupted-Interrupted does not distort land masses and maintains accurate proportions. Interrupted does not however allow for accurate measurement of distance.

Geography: Before You StartLatitude, or parallels, are imaginary lines parallel to the equator, running east and west

Longitude, or meridians, are imaginary lines parallel to the Prime Meridian, running north and south

Hemisphere, one half of the earth

Equator, or 0 degrees latitude

Prime Meridian, or 0 degrees longitude

Tropic of Cancer, or 23.5 degrees north latitude

Tropic of Capricorn, or 23.5 degrees south latitude

Labeling Maps: T.O.A.D.S.Title: Name the Map

Orientation: North, South, East and West

Author: Identify the creator of the map

Date: Place a date the map

Symbols: Every map needs a scale & symbols to identify characteristics

Physical and Political

Maps

Physical

Political

Physical-Political