Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Feeling Kind of Square
To get started, look at Figure 3-1 and familiarize yourself with Gridville. In particular, note the fol-
lowing:
The roads are aligned with the cardinal directions — that is, they run north-south or east-
west. The result is a grid pattern of north-south roads that intersect east-west roads at right
angles. So getting right with Gridville means getting used to a city that is all right angles and
nothing but right angles. Thus, I'll understand if this town leaves you feeling a little square.
North is toward the top of the map; south is toward the bottom; east is toward the right; and
west is toward the left. This is a near-universal rule in map-making, but you should always care-
fully examine the map you are looking at and confirm which way is which.
Gridville has a principal east-west road named Equator Boulevard, and a principal north-
south road named Prime Meridian Way. The two roads cross in the middle of Gridville.
Every other road in Gridville has a name that refers to its location relative to those two
roads. Thus, streets are numbered consecutively north and south of Equator Boulevard. Aven-
ues are numbered consecutively east and west of Prime Meridian Way.
A big dot and a letter mark two intersections. I'll refer to these shortly.
Telling Someone Where to Go
Because geography involves locations and directions, it affords ample opportunity to tell someone
where to go. Suppose you live in Gridville and are standing on the sidewalk at Point A, the corner
of North 4th Street and East 3rd Avenue. A stranger from out of town comes up to you and asks for
directions to Gridville Hospital — can you help her?
Of course you can. You know the hospital is located at Point B on the map. And you can convey that
information to the stranger by stating either the hospital's relative location or absolute location.
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