| A | B |
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| geography | The study of the Earth's surface and the processes that shape it, the connections between places, and the relationships between people and their environment. |
| latitude | The series of imaginary lines, also called parallels, that circle the Earth parallel to the Equator; used to measure a distance north or south of the Equator in degrees. |
| parallel | In geography, any to the imaginary lines that circle the Earth parallel to the Equator; a latitude line. |
| degree | A unit of measure used to determine absolute location; on globes and maps, latitude and longitude are measured in degrees. |
| Equator | An imaginary line that circles the globe at its widest point (halfway between the North and south poles), dividing Earth into two halves called hemispheres; used as a reference point from which north and south latitudes are measured. |
| longitude | The series of imaginary lines, also called meridians, that run north and south from one pole to the other; used to measure a distance east or west of the Prime Meridian in degrees. |
| meridian | An imaginary line that circles the globe from north to south and runs through both the North and South poles; the lines of longitude on maps or globes are meridians. |
| Prime Meridian | An imaginary line of longitude, or meridian, that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole through Greenwich, England; it is designated 0 degrees longitude and is used as a reference point from which east and west lines of longitude are measured. |
| plain | A large area of flat or gently rolling land. |
| globe | A round model of the Earth that shows the continents and oceans in their true shapes. |
| scale | The size of an area on a map as compared witht he area's actual size. |
| distortion | A misrepresentation of the true shape; each map projection used by a cartographer produces some distortion. |
| projection | A representation of the Earth's rounded surface on a flat peice of paper. |
| compass rose | A map feature that usually shows the four cardinal directions. |
| cardinal direction | On of the four compass points; north, south, east, west. |
| key | The section of the map that explains the symbols for the map features; also called a legend. |
| Gerhardus Mercator | A geographer who created a flat map to help sailors navigate long journeys around the globe. In order to make it flat, he expands the area between the longitudes near the poles. |
| Arthur Robinson | A geographer who created a map that shows the size and shape of most of the land quite accurately. Sizes of the oceans and distances are also fairly accurate. |
