Geography
Where things are, and how we describe where they are.
1. Continents and oceans
The 7 continents
Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia (sometimes called Oceania). Asia is the largest by area and population. Australia is the smallest.
The 5 oceans
Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic. The Pacific is the largest and deepest, covering more area than all the land on Earth combined.
2. Latitude and longitude
Together, latitude and longitude give an address for any point on Earth.
| Latitude | Longitude | |
|---|---|---|
| Also called | Parallels | Meridians |
| Lines run | East to west (parallel to the equator) | North to south (pole to pole) |
| Measures | Distance north or south of the equator (0°) | Distance east or west of the prime meridian (0°) |
| Range | 0° to 90° N or S | 0° to 180° E or W |
The equator splits Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The prime meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England, helps split it into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
3. Reading a map
- Compass rose: shows the directions north, south, east, and west.
- Scale: tells you how a distance on the map matches real distance, such as 1 inch = 100 miles.
- Legend (key): explains the symbols and colors used.
- Title: tells you what the map is showing.
Five regions of the United States
Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West. Geographers sometimes group the states differently, so check which grouping your class uses.
4. Capitals
A capital is not always the biggest city. Watch for these common mix-ups.
| Place | Capital | Often mistaken for |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Canberra | Sydney |
| Canada | Ottawa | Toronto |
| Brazil | Brasília | Rio de Janeiro |
| California | Sacramento | Los Angeles |
| New York (state) | Albany | New York City |
| Kenya | Nairobi | |
| Japan | Tokyo |
Practice quiz
Tap an answer. You will see right away whether it is correct and why.