Chapter 4: Maps and Map Interpretations – Geography Form Five New

A map: is the scaled representation of part of the earth or whole earth surface on a flat material such as piece of paper, black board, wood or cloth. Thus, a map must be drawn to scale. A person who makes maps is called a cartographer while an art of making map is called cartography.

Map reading: is a systematic identification of natural features and man-made features found on the map. Natural features include mountains, plateaus, hills, valleys, river, ocean, rocks, plain etc. and man-made features include roads, railway, buildings, dam etc.

Map interpretation: is the ability to translate the symbols signs used on the map into ordinary language by indicating the features that they represent and be able to draw logical conclusion from the information as presented by symbols.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A MAP

i. Map is a scaled representation of the earth’s surface

ii. Map is selective in nature i.e. few features are shown on the map

iii. Map uses symbols and sign to show features

iv. Map is a projection i.e. maps are drawn from the mathematically transformed curved earth so as to present them on flat surface. Therefore, maps are representation of the three-dimensional earth into the two-dimensional flat surface.

v. Maps are the model of reality; it represents actual features that exist on the real life

vi. Map is static i.e. does not change as the earth’s features changes. Maps shows the present feature at the time of its production.

vii. A map is a source of geographical data, e.g. natural and artificial features.

CATEGORIES/CLASSIFICATION/TYPES OF MAPS

Basically, maps used in geographical studies are extremely varied and belong to different forms. They are classified by considering the following categorizing factors;

According to their functions.
According to their scale size used.
According to degree of accuracy

(A)MAPS ACCORDING TO THEIR FUNCTIONS AND CONTENTS

Using this classification, it is taken into consideration of what a particular map shows. Map display varied information and thus is of different functions
depending on what shown. With respect to this, maps are broadly categorized into two and include;

Topographical map
Thematic maps/Statistical maps

1. TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP

Topographical maps: These are maps that shows the distribution of both natural and artificial or man made features. Example: of natural features are such as river, mountain, plateau, hill and Artificial features include: road, railway, buildings, bridge, settlement patterns, etc.

2. STATISTICAL MAP or THEMATICAL MAPS

Statistical maps: There are the geographical maps, which show distribution of certain geographical phenomena in a quantitative manner. Normally, they show the distribution of phenomena of interesting geographical studies like temperature, population density, rainfall, settlement, vegetation etc. For
example, Dot maps, Isoline maps, Flow line maps, geological maps, soil maps, vegetation maps among others.

Chapter 4: Maps and Map Interpretations – Geography Form Five New