An imaginary line on the ground running north-south which is accurately laid out to serve as the reference meridian in land surveys.

A map that shows the positions of features without showing the elevations of all hills and valleys of the land. It can include rivers, lakes, roads, boundaries, or other human-made symbolic features.

A pace is defined as the average length of two natural steps (a count is made each time the same foot touches the ground).

Indicates the ratio or proportion of the horizontal distance on the map to the corresponding horizontal distance on the ground.

A line drawing, to some scale, of an area of the earth's surface. It shows objects and features by conventional signs.

The direction toward which a magnetic needle of a compass points.

Bearing by magnetic north rather than true north.

A key accompanying a map which shows information needed to interpret that map. Each type of map has information represented in a different way relating to its subject matter. The legend can explain map scales, symbols and color.

A feature in the landscape which can be readily recognized; anythign from a prominent tree or rock, to a church or a lake.

A graphic scale is a line marked off on a map which compares map distances to the ground distance in "different" units of measurements.