Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
The orientation of a map is the relationship between the directions on the map and the corresponding compass directions in reality. The word " orient " is derived from Latin oriens , meaning east. In the Middle Ages many maps, including the T and O maps , were drawn with east at the top (meaning that the direction "up" on the map corresponds to ...
This glossary of geography terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in geography and related fields, including Earth science, oceanography, cartography, and human geography, as well as those describing spatial dimension, topographical features, natural resources, and the collection, analysis, and visualization of geographic ...
All projections distort geographic features, distances, and directions in some way. The various map projections that have been developed provide different ways of balancing accuracy and the unavoidable distortion inherent in making world maps. Perhaps the best-known projection is the Mercator Projection, originally designed as a nautical chart.
In modern mapping, a topographic map or topographic sheet is a type of map characterized by large-scale detail and quantitative representation of relief features, usually using contour lines (connecting points of equal elevation), but historically using a variety of methods.
Most American geography and social studies classrooms have adopted the five themes in teaching practices, [3] as they provide "an alternative to the detrimental, but unfortunately persistent, habit of teaching geography through rote memorization". [1] They are pedagogical themes that guide how geographic content should be taught in schools. [4]
The ancient Polynesians and Pacific Islanders mastered the methods of wayfinding to explore and settle on the islands of the Pacific, many using devices such as the Marshall Islands stick chart. With these skills, some of them were even able to navigate the ocean as well as they could navigate their own land.
In this map, the city points, highway lines, and the fill colors of the ocean and different countries are all considered map symbols. These symbols show location, convey information, increase aesthetic appeal, and create a gestalt order to the map.
Direction determination refers to the ways in which a cardinal direction or compass point can be determined in navigation and wayfinding. The most direct method is using a compass ( magnetic compass or gyrocompass ), but indirect methods exist, based on the Sun path (unaided or by using a watch or sundial ), the stars, and satellite navigation .