Geography: Map Types, U.S.A, Mississippi
This was our first study session (March 3, 2021). Session was at your house. Note, all links open a new tab in your browser.
a). MAP PROJECTIONS
Since the earth is a ball, map makers have to find a way to flatten out the representation of earth’s features on a flat surface. None of them are perfect. Here’s more on that.
b). LATITUDE & LONGITUDE
Latitude: lines that determine a location east or west. They run north and south from the earth’s equator measured from zero to 90 degrees. Longitude: lines that determine a location north or south. They run east west across the earth’s surface, starting at Greenwich, England, and are also expressed in degrees from zero to 90. Geography Realm link.
c). ONLINE MAPS
The following maps are excellent Google alternatives:
| Open Street Map | An Open Source map that is built by many volunteers. Map and directions. |
| WeGo Here | Was funded by BMW and other car makers. Map and directions. |
| Seterra | Has a neat map quiz game. |
| Zoom.earth | A cool interactive map that shows satellite views. You can set layers to show various things like cloud cover, etc. |
d). U.S.A.
Britannica article. We looked at the following maps to get a quick overview of the United States from a geographical (physical features) and political perspective (borders and states). We noted the 49th Parallel to be the boundary between Canada and the U.S. for the western part of North America.
| World Atlas map | Map of U.S physical characteristics; Rocky Mountains, Central Plains, etc. |
| On The World map | Shows U.S. states and capitals. |
| Nations Online map | Good introduction to the U.S. (see “About the United States”), and then click on the map to enlarge. Shows many details. |
d2). Mississippi River
We decided to zero in on one of the main physical features of the United States: the mighty Mississippi River. At 2,340 km’s, it is the longest river in North America. If you add in the Missouri River system, it is 5,971 km long, taking that route. Britannica article. World Atlas article. Map.
Bonus section: An excellent alternative to Wikipedia for information is Britannica. Enjoy!