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    Direction: Course Title: Geography 1 (Basic Geography)

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    This document provides an overview of topics covered in a basic geography course including direction, cardinal directions, compass use, and absolute and relative locations. It defines cardinal directions as north, south, east, and west and ordinal directions as northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest. Absolute location refers to a fixed point on Earth using coordinates like latitude and longitude, while relative location describes the position of a place in relation to other locations rather than precise coordinates.

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    Direction: Course Title: Geography 1 (Basic Geography)

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    82 views7 pages
    This document provides an overview of topics covered in a basic geography course including direction, cardinal directions, compass use, and absolute and relative locations. It defines cardinal directions as north, south, east, and west and ordinal directions as northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest. Absolute location refers to a fixed point on Earth using coordinates like latitude and longitude, while relative location describes the position of a place in relation to other locations rather than precise coordinates.

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    This document provides an overview of topics covered in a basic geography course including direction, cardinal directions, compass use, and absolute and relative locations. It defines cardinal directions as north, south, east, and west and ordinal directions as northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest. Absolute location refers to a fixed point on Earth using coordinates like latitude and longitude, while relative location describes the position of a place in relation to other locations rather than precise coordinates.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    82 views7 pages

    Direction: Course Title: Geography 1 (Basic Geography)

    Uploaded by

    jiggly pop
    This document provides an overview of topics covered in a basic geography course including direction, cardinal directions, compass use, and absolute and relative locations. It defines cardinal directions as north, south, east, and west and ordinal directions as northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest. Absolute location refers to a fixed point on Earth using coordinates like latitude and longitude, while relative location describes the position of a place in relation to other locations rather than precise coordinates.

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    of 7

    COURSE TITLE: GEOGRAPHY 1 (BASIC GEOGRAPHY)

    TOPICS:
    A. Direction
    B. Cardinal and Secondary Directions
    C. Use and importance of the Compass
    D. Absolute and Relative or Vicinal locations.

    Direction is used to determine where things are in relation to other things.


    Sometimes direction is vague, like when we talk about things being in that general
    direction. For geographic purposes, direction is more specific. It is the pathway along
    which an object is moving. Direction is also the location of a feature based on the
    position of another feature.

    THE LANGUAGE OF DIRECTIONS


    Fortunately, people have maps and compasses to guide them, and when the sky is clear
    they have the Sun and stars. Also, devices with GPS (Global Positioning System)
    receivers can be used. To learn how to use basic navigational aids, people need to know
    the exact meanings of words used in the language of directions.

    Some of these direction words pertain to the body. Such words are “forward,” “back,”
    “right,” and “left.” Others are related to Earth. These are “up,” “down,” “north,”
    “south,” “east,” and “west.”
    Cardinal directions are the four main points of a compass: north, south, east, and
    west which are also known by the first letters: N,S,E, and W. These four directions are
    also known as cardinal points.
    A cardinal direction can also be referred to by first using the
    word “due”. For example, the cardinal direction of north can also
    be referred to as due north.

    On a compass rose, which is a symbol found on maps that shows directions, there will
    be four points indicating north, south, east, and west.
    Ordinal directions refer to the direction found at the point equally between each
    cardinal direction.

    Ordinal directions are: northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW), and northwest
    (NW). Ordinal directions are also known as intercardinal directions.

    On a compass rose, the ordinal directions are each halfway between each cardinal
    direction. For example, NE (northeast) is halfway between North and East.

    A compass rose with both ordinal and cardinal directions will have eight points: N, NE,
    E, SE, S, SW, W, and NW.
    Purpose of a Compass

    Peary's Compass

    Robert Peary used this compass to


    reach the North Pole, allegedly the
    first person to do so. Although
    compasses normally point in a
    northern direction, at the geographic
    North Pole, where Peary explored,
    compasses point south. That is
    because the Magnetic North Pole is
    actually 800 kilometers (497 miles)
    away. Peary's compass is now on
    display at the United States Naval

    A compass is a device that indicates direction. It is one of the most


    important instruments for navigation.
    A compass's singular purpose is to tell you what direction you are heading in at
    all times, which prevents you from getting lost.

    Magnetic compasses are the most well-known type of compass. They


    have become so popular that the term “compass” almost always refers a
    magnetic compass.

    Using a Compass
    Locating the directions North, East, South and West on the compass is
    most vital. Make sure you understand how a compass's needle works before
    you set out on an adventure alone. Also, compasses work more efficiently with
    maps, because you can point to the direction of your destination by relying on
    the map first. If you find yourself without written directions, anticipate some
    uncertainty using a compass alone, especially if you hike through dense woods,
    fog or very high winds that may slightly alter the compass's needle

    Absolute Location
    Absolute location describes the location of a place based on a fixed point on earth.
    The most common way is to identify the location using coordinates such as latitude
    and longitude. Lines of longitude and latitude crisscross the earth.

    Latitude is used to mark the north-south position of a location on the Earth’s surface
    and ranges from 0 degrees at the equator to 90 degrees at the North and South Poles.
    There are 180 degrees of latitude and the distance between each degree of latitude is
    roughly 69 miles (111 km).

    An example of an absolute location using latitude and longitude is


    the United States Capitol which is located at 38° 53′ 35″ N, 77° 00′
    jj
    32″ W. Latitude is always written first and latitude and longitude
    are composed of degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS).
    Absolute location can also refer to an address, the street address of the US State Capitol
    is First St SE in Washington, DC 20004. In both instances, absolute location refers to a
    fixed point based on an abstract network of imaginary locations.

    Relative Location
    Relative location refers to the position of a place or entity based on its location with
    respect to other locations. For example, the location of the US Capitol is located about
    38 miles southwest of Baltimore. Relative location can be expressed in terms of
    distance, travel time, or cost.

    Relative location can also be used to provide geographic context. For example,
    overview or locator maps show the relative location of a place or entity based on a
    larger geographic view. For example, the inset map below, shows the relative location
    of the state of Texas within the United States.
    Relative location, unlike absolute location is not a fixed reference. In the map below, a
    person would describe the relative location of Broad River, which flows through North
    Caroline and South Carolina, differently.

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