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Maps

The document discusses different types of maps including physical maps, political maps, and thematic maps. It describes the key components of maps including distance, direction, and symbols. Distance is represented through scales while direction uses cardinal points and a compass. Symbols are used to represent features on a map since they cannot be drawn to actual size. Sketches and plans are also discussed as types of maps.

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Debkanta Chakraborty
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23 views

Maps

The document discusses different types of maps including physical maps, political maps, and thematic maps. It describes the key components of maps including distance, direction, and symbols. Distance is represented through scales while direction uses cardinal points and a compass. Symbols are used to represent features on a map since they cannot be drawn to actual size. Sketches and plans are also discussed as types of maps.

Uploaded by

Debkanta Chakraborty
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A map is a representation or a drawing of the earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface

according to a scale.
Limitations of globe: A globe can be useful when the earth is studied as a whole. But, when only a
part of the earth is studied, as about our country, states, districts, towns and villages, it is of little
help. In such a situation maps are used. When many maps are put together atlas is obtained.
Atlases are of various sizes, measurements drawn on different scales. Maps provide more
information than a globe. They are of different types:
PHYSICAL MAPS: Maps showing natural features of the earth such as mountains, plateaus,
plains, rivers, oceans etc. are called physical maps.
POLITICAL MAPS: Maps showing cities, towns and villages, and different countries and states of
the world with their boundaries are called political maps.
THEMATIC MAPS: Some maps focus on specific information; such as road maps, rainfall maps,
maps showing distribution of forests, industries etc. are known as thematic maps. Suitable titles
are given on the basis of information provided in these maps.
There are three Components of Maps – distance, direction and symbol.
Distance: Maps are drawings, which reduce the entire world or a part of it to fit on a sheet of
paper. For this purpose a scale is chosen so that a small distance on paper represents a large
distance on the ground. Thus the maps seem to be real. Scale is the ratio between the actual
distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map. For example, the distance between
your school and your home is 10 km. If you show this 10 km. distance by 2 cm on a map, it
means, 1 cm on the map will show 5 km. on the ground. The scale of your drawing will be 1cm = 5
km.
When large areas like continents or countries are to be shown on a paper, then we use a small
scale. For example 5 cm. on the map shows 500 km. of the ground. It is called a small scale map.
When a small area like your village or town is to be shown on paper, then we use a large scale
that is 5 cm. on the map shows 500 metres only on the ground. It is called a large scale map.
Large scale maps give more information than small scale maps.
Direction: Most maps contain an arrow marked with the letter ‘N’ at the upper right hand corner.
This arrow shows the north direction. It is called the north line. When you know the north, you can
find out other directions, for example east, west and south. There are four major directions, North,
South, East and West. They are called cardinal points. Other four intermediate directions are
north-east (NE), southeast (SE), south-west (SW) and north-west (NW). We can locate any place
more accurately with the help of these intermediate directions.

Compass is used to find the direction of a place. It is an instrument used to find out main
directions. Its magnetic needle always points towards north-south direction {Figure 4.2 (b)}.
Symbols: It is the third important component of a map. It is not possible to draw the actual shape
and size of different features such as buildings, roads, bridges, trees etc. on a map. So, they are
shown by using certain letters, shades, colours, pictures and lines. These symbols give a lot of
information in a limited space. With the use of these symbols, maps can be drawn easily and are
simple to read. If someone doesn’t know the language of an area then the direction can be known
by collecting from maps with the help of these symbols. Maps have a universal language that can
be understood by all. There is an international agreement regarding the use of these symbols.
These are called conventional symbols.
Various colours are used for the same purpose. For example, generally blue is used for showing
water bodies, brown for mountain, yellow for plateau and green is used for plains.
SKETCH: A sketch is a drawing mainly based on memory and spot observation and not to scale.
Sometimes a rough drawing is required of an area to tell where a particular place is located with
respect to other places. Suppose, you want to go to your friend’s house, but you don’t know the
way. Your friend may make a rough drawing to show the way to his house. Such a rough drawing
is drawn without scale, and is called a sketch map.
PLAN: A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale. A large-scale map gives lot of
information, but there are certain things which we may sometimes want to know for example the
length and breadth of a room, which can’t be shown in a map. At that time, we can refer drawings
drawn to scale called a plan.

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