CHARACTERISTICS OF MAPS:-Objects on maps are represented

using SYMBOLS. The meaning of these

symbols is explained in a KEY.

-Maps include a compass rose that shows cardinal directions.

-Maps have a scale. A scale shows the relationship between the distances on the map and the actual (real) distances on the Earth.

(NORTH, SOUTH,

EAST, WEST)

COMPASS

ROSE

SYMBOLS

& KEY

SCALE

POLITICAL MAPS: they show countries, their borders and capital cities.

COUNTRIES

BODERS

CAPITAL

CITY

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES:To describe geographical locations on Earth, we use a system of imaginary lines called parallels and meridians.

Parallels are circular lines that go around the Earth from East to West. The longest parallel, the Equator, divides the Earth into the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. LATITUDE is the distance in degrees from the Equator (0º).

Meridians are circular lines that go from North to South and pass throuth the poles. Meridians are the same lenght. The Prime Meridian, also called the Greenwich Meridian, divides the Earth into the eastern hemisphere and the western hemisphere. LONGITUDE is the distance in degrees from the Prime Meridian (0º).

GLOBES AND WORLD MAPS:GLOBES are more accurate than MAPS for representing the Earth, because they are three-dimensional like the Earth itself. Once you try to reproduce the surface of the Earth on a flat map, the sizes and shapes get distorted. Some countries appear larger than they really are.

GLOBES WORLD MAP

CHANGING POPULATION

The absolute population of an area is the number of inhabitants in that area. It’s constantly changing, because of the birth rates and death rates.

The science that studies these changes is called demography.

NATURAL INCREASE. We call this to the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths.

natural increase = birth rate – death rate

A positive natural increase means that the birth rate is higher than the death rate. The absolute population increases.

A negative natural increase means the death rate is higher than the birth rate. The absolute population decreases.

ACTUAL (REAL) INCREASE. To discover the actual increase of a population, we add (+) the number of immigrants to the natural increase and then substract (-) the number of emigrants. The actual increase can also be positive or negative.actual increase = natural increase + number of immigrants – number of emigrants

There are many CAUSES of migratory movements: natural causes (floodings, earthquakes, etc.), social causes (wars, poverty, etc.), economic causes (job opportunities).

POPULATION DENSITY. It shows us how populated an area is. We calculate population density by dividing (:) the number of inhabitants by the size of the area they live in. The measurement for area is square kilometres (km2). Population density = population : Km2

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Finnish Lithuanian Swedish

The European Union has 24 official and working languages. They are:

EUROPEAN POPULATION