1.1 The use of lines of longitude and latitude

SOCIAL SCIENCES: Geography

Grade 6

MAP WORK AND PRACTICAL WORK

Module 2

THE USE OF LINES OF LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE

1. How are lines of longitude and latitude used in your atlas?

Lines of latitude (N or S) and longitude (E or W) can also be used TOGETHER to describe the location of places exactly. Then they are called that place’s location co-ordinates.

Let’s say you have no idea where Sydney is on the globe. Rather than reading and searching a map for hours, you can go to the INDEX at the back of the atlas, where the names of places are arranged alphabetically.

Example:

Next to Sydney the following particulars are given:

Sydney 55 33.55 S 150.30 E

This means

55 - page 55 in the atlas (differs from atlas to atlas)

33.55 S - 33 degrees and 55 minutes south

150.30 E - 150 degrees and 30 minutes east

By using the degree reference, any place can be easily found. The degree reference refers to degrees of longitude and latitude.

Activity 1:

To determine the location of capital cities

[LO 1.3]

Find the following capitals in the index of your atlas, and write down the location of each one completely. Then indicate which one should have the coldest climate, which ones should have roughly the same climate, etc.

[LO 1.2]

Name the three kinds of scales indicated on the map of the world:

Measure the distance between the following places in centimetres. Use the map’s ratio scale and determine the real distance in kilometres. Show your calculations.

a) (4) Cape Town to (5) Melbourne _______________km

b) (6) New York to (7) London ______________________km

c) (8) Paris to (9) Johannesburg_________________km

Study the world map and say in which direction the following countries lie from one another:

South America to Europe

Europe to Africa

Australia to South Africa

Europe to Australia

If you want to fly from (9) Johannesburg to the nearest ocean, in which direction and how far will this be in kilometres?

Direction

Distance_______ km

In which two hemispheres are the following countries and continents situated?

h) Asia___________and_______________

i) Canada ___________and_________________

j) South Africa ____________ and_____________

k) India _______________and______________

l) USA _____________ and__________________

Which lines of latitude are represented by numbers (10), (11) and (12)?

Name the line of longitude that runs through London.

In the morning, will the sun “appear” at Australia or South Africa first? Give reasons for your answer.

Figure 4

***SORRY, THIS MEDIA TYPE IS NOT SUPPORTED.***

Activity 3:

To use an atlas index

[LO 1.3]

Find the place names in the following questions in your atlas index and answer each of the questions:

1. Which river flows through Munich?

2. Which channel connects Berlin with the North Sea?

3. Name the largest island in Japan

4. How high is the highest point of the Caucasus?

5. Name the capital of Taiwan

6. Between which two parts of the United Kingdom are the Cheviot Hills?

_________________ and_____________________

7. What is the time difference between Rosario and Manaus in South Africa?

8. Which city lies 25 km southeast of Amsterdam?

9. In which country can we find the city of Stuttgart?

10. Which river runs into Lake St Lucia?

11. How far is the Argentine capital from the capital of Uruguay?

12. What is so unique about Lake Titicaca? (Look at the colour of the surrounding area.)

13. Which of Ladismith or Ladysmith is closest to Cape Town?

14. On which island can you find the city of Palermo?

15. Roughly how many kilometres is the coastline of the Nigerian delta?

Assessment

Memorandum

Activity 1:

Activity 2:

Ratio scale

Word scale

Line scale

±10 000 km

±6 000 km

±7 000 km

NE

S

W

g) SE

E

±600 km

N and E

N and W

S and E

N and E

N and W

23,5ºC

0º

60ºN

Greenwich (0º)

Australia – E of SA

Activity 3:

Isar

Mitteland Canal

Honshu

Elbrus/ 5633 m

Taipei

Scotland and England

None

Hilversum

Germany

Umfolozi

250 - 300 km

Very high

Ladismith

Sicily

15. ±250 km