Chapter 5

Mapping Skills

Q.1. Briefly describe types of maps?

There are several types of maps. Each map showed different type of information.

a. Political Map These maps show the individual countries separated by a national boundry. Capital and major cities are shown.

b. Thematic Map Thematic map has specific themes. For example climatic maps, it gives information about temprature, rainfall and atmospheric pressure.Different colours are used to show differen temparature range.

c. Economic or Resources Map:It shows different types of natural resources or the economic activities of an area. Symbols are used to show the resources or activities.

d. Physical Map:A physical map shows the physical features such as mountains, plains, and rivers.

e. Road Maps Road map show the roads, highways, railroad tracks, and points of interest of a place. People use these maps to find their ways around a town, city or country.

f. Topographical MapsThes maps show more details of physical features of a place. Details such as shape and hieght of the features with the help of contour lines. Contour lines join the places of same hieghts.

Question .2. Why symbols used in maps?

Symbols are used to represent the diffrent physical and human features of the earth’s surface.

Question 3. (What is on a map) What are the basic elements of a map?

A good map usually have: Title: tell us about what the map shows Scale: shows the relationship between a lenght on a map and actual distance on earth North arrow: shows the north on the map Names of features : A key or a legend : consisits of symbols that represent physical and human features on the

earth. Grid lines: series of numbered vertical (easting) and horizonatal (northing) lines on map

Question.4. What are grid lines?

series of numbered vertical (easting) and horizonatal (northing) lines on map

Question.5. How many types of symbols?

Line symbols: they represnt roads, paths, rivers, or railway tracks.

Raod straem

Path ------------------------------- river

Point Symbols:

They represnt school, church, hospitals, buildings.

Building Monument

Area Symbols:

They represnt lakes and farms by different colours for example lake is blue and cultivation is green.

Cultivation Lake

Height symbols:

The height of places are shown by the contour lines which are imaginary lines to join the places of same height. To show the exact height of a spot, a trignometrical station is used.

Trignometrical station

Contour lines

Question.6. What is a scale. How many ways to show a scale?

Scale shows the relationship between a lenght on a map and actual distance on earth.

There are three ways to show a scale.

In words: 1cm: 1km (means 1 cm on the map is equal to 1 km on the ground)

As a ratio: 1:100,000 (1cm on the map represents 100,000 cm or 1 km on the ground)

As a line: a line divided into units, each representing a certain distance

Question 7. What are vertical and horizonatl grid lines called?

a) Vertical lines called eastings b) Horizontal lines called northing

Question.8. What are maps and their uses?

Maps are visual representation of the earth’s surface.before pinting map were drawn by hands and not easily available.in 15th century after printingmaps became widely available.

Mapes were and are used for following purposes.

Valueable sources of information:

Map provides information about how to find your way by showing where a place is located. Distances between differnt features can be estimated.

Bases of planning and decision-making:To plan and develop a city a base map shows where to build a factory, road, school, or house.