![]() |
Our subscribers' grade-level estimate for this page: 5th - 6th |
![]() |
Zoom Explorers |
![]() |
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Africa | Antarctica | Arctic | Australia | Canada | Mexico | North America | South America | Space | Undersea | Women |
1300's and Earlier | 1400's | Early 1500's | Late 1500's | 1600's | 1700's | 1800's | 1900's | Glossary of Exploration Terms |
ALTITUDE Altitude is the height of an area, measured from sea level. |
The analemma is a figure-8-shaped diagram that shows the declination of the sun (the angle that the sun is from the equator), for each day in the year. If you took a snapshot of the sun at the same time each day (from the same location), the Sun would make a figure shaped like an analemma during the course of a year (this is because the Earth is tilted on its axis and because it doesn't orbit the Sun in a perfect circle). |
ASTROLABE An astrolabe is an instrument that was used to determine the altitude of objects (like the sun) in the sky. It was first used around 200 B.C. by astronomers in Greece. The astrolabe was replaced by the sextant. |
BUCCANEER A buccaneer was a pirate from the Caribbean. |
CAPE A cape is a piece of land that that projects out into a large body of water. |
CARTOGRAPHER A cartographer is a map maker. |
Cartography is the study and the construction of maps. |
A caravel is a type of two- or three-masted sailing ship developed in the 1400s by the Portuguese. |
CELESTIAL NAVIGATION Celestial navigation is a method of navigating by using the stars or other objects in the sky. |
CHRONOMETER A chronometer is a very accurate time-keeping device that is used for determining one's longitude at sea. |
CIRCUMNAVIGATE To circumnavigate is to travel around the entire Earth (or around another given object). |
A compass is a device that always points north. It is used for navigation. |
A compass rose is a design on a map that shows direction. It points which way is north, south, east, west, and some intermediate directions on the map. |
DEAD RECKONING Dead reckoning is a method of navigation that involves calculating one's position by noting one's speed, the speed and direction of the wind, ocean currents, and compass directions. Dead reckoning was used by sailors like Columbus. |
EASTERN HEMISPHERE The Eastern Hemisphere consists of Europe, Asia, and Africa. |
The equator is an imaginary circle around the earth, halfway between the north and south poles. |
FATHOM A fathom is a unit of measurement used on the seas to measure depth. A fathom is equal to 6 feet or 1.8 meters (it was originally the distance between a sailor's outstretched arms). |
FLOTSAM Flotsam is a term for floating remnants of a shipwreck. |
GEOGRAPHY Geography is the study of the Earth's surface. |
GLACIER A glacier is a slowly-moving river of snow and ice. |
GPS GPS is short for global positioning system. GPS devices tell you your exact longitude and latitude (it gets the information from orbiting satellites). |
HORSE LATITUDES The horse latitudes are high-pressure areas, located between 30 degrees north and south, in which the wind is light and varied. |
ICE BREAKER An icebreaker is a ship that is designed with a very strong hull and powerful engines so that the ship can travel through icy waters. |
International marine signal flags are a system of flags used to communicate at sea. You can spell out your message, but there are also some shorthand meanings. For example, "DX" means "ship is sinking," "C" means "yes," and "N" means "no." |
JETSAM Jetsam is a term for objects that have been thrown overboard in order to lighten a ship when it is in trouble (like when it hits a coral reef or comes too close to shore). |
KNOT A knot is a unit of speed used on the water. A knot is equal to 1.15 miles per hour (or one nautical mile per hour). |
LANDFALL Landfall means to approach, sight, or reach land. |
Latitude is the angular distance north or south from the equator to a particular location. The equator has a latitude of zero degrees. The North Pole has a latitude of 90 degrees North; the South Pole has a latitude of 90 degrees South. |
Longitude is the angular distance east or west from the north-south line that passes through Greenwich, England, to a particular location. Greenwich, England, has a longitude of zero degrees. The farther east or west of Greenwich you are, the greater your longitude (east or west). The Midway Islands (in the Pacific Ocean) have a longitude of 180 degrees (they are on the opposite side of the globe from Greenwich). |
A map is a representation of a place. There are many different types of maps that have different uses. |
A Mercator projection is a type of map in which the true compass direction are kept intact (lines of latitude and longitude intersect at right angles), but areas are distorted (for example, polar areas look much larger than they really are). Mercator Projections are useful for nautical navigation. Geradus Mercato first devised this projection for navigation in 1569. |
NAUTICAL MILE A nautical mile is a unit of distance that is used on the water; it is equal to 1.15 miles or one minute (1/60 of a degree) along a line of longitude. |
NAVIGATION Navigation is process of plotting or directing the course of a vessel. |
NEW WORLD The New World is another name for the Americas (or the Western Hemisphere). |
NORTHEAST PASSAGE A water route connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean across northern Europe and Asia. |
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of the Earth that is north of the equator. |
The North Pole is the northernmost place on Earth. There is no land at the North Pole, but there is a layer of ice on top of the Arctic Ocean around the pole. |
The north star is a star that is located almost due north and is useful for navigation. Polaris is currently the pole star of the Northern Hemisphere. |
NORTHWEST PASSAGE A water route connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean across northern North America. |
OLD WORLD The Old World is another name for the Eastern Hemisphere (Europe, Asia, and Africa). |
QUADRANT The quadrant is an instrument used to measure altitude. |
RAPIDS Rapids are parts of a river that are shallow, rocky, and have strong currents. |
SEXTANT The sextant is an astronomical instrument that is used to determine latitude for navigation. It does this by measuring angular distances, like the altitude of the sun, moon and stars. The sextant was invented independently in both England and America in 1731. The sextant replaced the astrolabe. The word sextant comes from the Latin word meaning "one sixth." |
SILK ROAD The silk road consisted of a few over-land trading routes between China and the West (Europe). The well-traveled paths run from China through Afghanistan and Iran to Southern Europe. |
SOUNDING Sounding is a method of measuring the depth of a body of water by dropping a weight attached to a rope and letting it hit the bottom. |
The Southern Hemisphere is the half of the Earth that is south of the equator. |
SOUTH MAGNETIC POLE The South Magnetic Pole is the point on the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth toward which a compass' needle always points; at the South Magnetic Pole, a compass' needle will stand vertically. It is now located just off the coast the continent of Antarctica (and its location changes over time). |
The south pole is the southernmost point on the Earth; it is located on the continent of Antarctica. |
STRAIT A strait is a narrow channel of water that connects two larger bodies of water. |
SUBMERSIBLE A submersible is a small underwater vessel. |
SUMMIT The summit is the highest point of a mountain (or other elecated area). |
WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Western Hemisphere is another name for the Americas (or the New World). |
WESTERLIES The westerlies are west-to-east winds that dominate the middle latitudes of both hemispheres on Earth. These winds blow between 35 degrees and 55 degrees of latitude. |
Zoom Explorers |
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Africa | Antarctica | Arctic | Australia | Canada | Mexico | North America | South America | Space | Undersea | Women |
1300's and Earlier | 1400's | Early 1500's | Late 1500's | 1600's | 1700's | 1800's | 1900's | Glossary of Exploration Terms |
Guidelines for Writing a Report on an Explorer |
Enchanted Learning®
Over 35,000 Web Pages
Sample Pages for Prospective Subscribers, or click below
Overview of Site What's New Enchanted Learning Home Monthly Activity Calendar Books to Print Site Index K-3 Crafts K-3 Themes Little Explorers Picture dictionary PreK/K Activities Rebus Rhymes Stories Writing Cloze Activities Essay Topics Newspaper Writing Activities Parts of Speech Fiction The Test of Time iPhone app TapQuiz Maps - free iPhone Geography Game
|
Biology Animal Printouts Biology Label Printouts Biomes Birds Butterflies Dinosaurs Food Chain Human Anatomy Mammals Plants Rainforests Sharks Whales Physical Sciences: K-12 Astronomy The Earth Geology Hurricanes Landforms Oceans Tsunami Volcano |
Languages Dutch French German Italian Japanese (Romaji) Portuguese Spanish Swedish Geography/History Explorers Flags Geography Inventors US History Other Topics Art and Artists Calendars College Finder Crafts Graphic Organizers Label Me! Printouts Math Music Word Wheels |
Click to read our Privacy Policy
Search the Enchanted Learning website for: |