Globes, Maps, and Atlases Plus, A Whole Bunch of Other Way Cool Geographic Information!!!
Globes Are the Most Accurate Portrayal of the Earth
The earth is about 24,900 miles in circumference, and about 7,900 miles in diameter. The polar circumference is about 50 miles shorter than the equatorial circumference, meaning that Earth is not a perfect sphere, or globe.
Planet Earth is Divided Into 4 Hemispheres (half circles).
Lines of LATITUDE are also called PARALLELS because they never intersect. They are measured in DEGREES, and go from 0-90 both North and South from the EQUATOR.
This was taken on a roadway in Idaho.
5 Key Lines of Latitude EQUATOR 0 Latitude TROPIC OF CANCER 23½ N TROPIC OF CAPRICORN 23½ S ARCTIC CIRCLE 66½ N ANTARCTIC CIRCLE 66½ S
66 1/2 North 23 1/2 North 0 0 23 1/2 South 66 1/2 South
Why Do We Have Seasons? As the earth revolves around the sun, its 23 ½ angle causes much of the world to have different seasons. This tilt causes different parts of earth to receive more direct rays at different times of the year.
The Solstices Twice a year, we have what is known as a SOLSTICE. These days mark the furthest north or south from the equator that the sun s rays shine directly overhead. The solstices mark the first days of summer and winter.
The line of latitude at 23½ N where this happens is called the TROPIC OF CANCER. The line of latitude at 23½ S where this happens is called the TROPIC OF CAPRICORN.
The sun s rays are directly over the Tropic of Cancer. This would mark the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. June
The sun s rays are directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. This would mark the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. December
The Equinoxes Twice a year we go through an EQUINOX. On these two days, the sun shines directly over the equator, and the days and nights are equal in the northern and southern hemispheres. The equinoxes mark the beginnings of spring and fall.
The sun s rays are directly over the equator twice a year. March September
It is interesting to note that the seasons in the southern hemisphere are exactly opposite of what we experience here in the northern hemisphere.
The Importance of Longitude Lines of LONGITUDE are also called MERIDIANS. They are not parallel because they happen to intersect at the poles.
At the North and South Poles, longitude lines meet.
The Geographic South Pole The Ceremonial South Pole
The North Pole sits on ice of the Arctic Ocean. Here, a submarine has broken through.
The key line of longitude is the PRIME MERIDIAN running through Greenwich, England. Lines are measured either East or West of it until 180 Longitude.
The Prime Meridian runs through Greenwich, England (near London), and is considered to be 0 Longitude.
At the Equator, the lines of longitude are 15 apart. The closer you get to the poles, the narrower the distance between them.
Together, Latitude and Longitude create a GLOBAL GRID that can be used to pinpoint locations on Earth.
The Four Corners Area
The only spot where four states come together at a common point.
You can be in four states all at once. (March 2008)
Longitude also provides us with something else interesting. In the days of slower travel, most people and towns set their own local times. By the late 1800s, with trains and other inventions, most countries had adopted the idea of having TIME ZONES to coordinate travel and make communication easier.
The World s 24 Time Zones
International Date Line Located at 180 Longitude is where a new day begins. This line is a little crooked to avoid splitting territory.
Terminator Lines At the International Date Line, a new day begins, and hour by hour, the new day slowly takes over the old one. The entire planet is on the same day only once in a 24- hour period.
The Terminator Line marks the two places on Earth between darkness and light.
Dawn Darkness becoming light Twilight Light becoming darkness
Russia has 9 Time Zones! China used to have 5, but now has only 1.
In the Continental U. S., we have 4 main Time Zones
Map Projections Although globes are the most accurate portrayal of what the Earth looks like, they are not always the most convenient to use. A PROJECTION is a way of showing the curved surface of the earth on a flat map. Because the earth is a sphere, a flat map will distort some aspect of the earth s surface. Distance, shape, direction, or area may be distorted.
Political and Physical Maps Political Maps Show things like country, state, or county borders, capital cities, other cities, etc. Physical Maps Show things like mountains, elevation, lakes, rivers, etc.
Counties and County Seats of Utah
Mountains, Lakes, and Rivers of Utah
A Combination of both Political and Physical Maps
This map that shows major roads in Utah, is a Thematic Map
Thematic Maps Show a specific theme or topic by taking a regular map and altering it to make a point. This is a map of favorite NFL teams by Facebook users.
Legend/Key Explains symbols on a map.
A Compass Rose CARDINAL and SECONDARY Directions Compass Roses have been on maps for centuries. They show the major directions on a map. Sometimes only north is indicated.
Scale A geographer decides what SCALE to use by determining how much detail to show. If many details are needed, a LARGE SCALE is used. If fewer details are needed, a SMALLER SCALE is used.
Small Scale
Large Scale
How Can I Access the Atlas at Home? Go to stratalogica.com Click the button that says login For the username, type: thbell For the password, type minutemen Don t forget to logout when you are done
The Map Projections used in the Atlas may have some distortion, but are very useful.
The Glossary will explain key terms.
The Index is extremely helpful in letting you know if something is a city, country, lake, river, mountain, etc
Politically, the term STATE is used to describe an independent place that occupies a specific territory and has full control of its affairs. Sometimes we also call it a COUNTRY. France Brazil South Africa
NATION refers to a group of people with a common culture living in a territory and having a strong sense of unity. When a nation and a state occupy the same territory, we often call it a NATION-STATE. There are some nations without a state, such as Quebec. French-speaking Quebec has its own distinct culture, separate from the rest of Canada. It is its own province within Canada, but it is not a separate state.
The Kurdish people (a nation) of the Middle East would like to have their own state. However, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran are not exactly jumping at the chance to donate territory for the Kurds to have their own state.
Characteristics and Boundaries The size of a country can help determine its wealth and power. It might have a lot of natural resources or a big population that creates a large work force. However, Great Britain, a smaller country achieved one of the greatest empires the world has known. Keep in mind that large countries also need to worry about defending longer borders and longer stretches of sea coasts as well.
The shape of a country may determine its relationship with other countries, how it is governed, and how goods are moved. Germany Is Compacted Chile Is Elongated Japan Is Fragmented
A country s location means a great deal. For instance, a landlocked country may find itself more isolated from the world. A LANDLOCKED country has no direct outlet to the sea and must find other ways to build connections with the rest of the world to get goods in and out the country.
Bolivia has mountains, lakes, and rivers, but no way to get to the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. It must work with its neighbors.
Most countries are protective of their borders or boundaries. They usually want to make their own laws, and control things like natural resources. The borders may be friendly or intense. Pakistan and India North and South Korea
NATURAL BOUNDARIES are based on physical features such as rivers, lakes, or chains of mountains. Example: our Rio Grande River border with Mexico. ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIES are usually fixed lines, following latitude or longitude. Example: our 49 N border with Canada.
Along part of the U. S./Canadian Border
Along part of the U. S./Mexican Border
MARITIME or boundaries in water also exist