Geography:

Map Review
 What is a map?

• A generalized view of an area, usually some

portion of Earth’s surface, as seen from
above at a greatly reduced size
• Any geographical image of the environment
• A two-dimensional representation of the
spatial distribution of selected phenomena
 Why make maps?

• To represent a larger area than we can see

• To show a phenomenon or process we
can’t see with our eyes
• To present information concisely
• To show spatial relationships
Represent a larger area
Show
what
we
can’t
see
Present info concisely
 Show spatial
Show relationships
spatial
relation
ships
 What’s on a map?
• Maps have a lot of
information, but you need to
know how to read them.
There are several parts to a
map which explain details and
help you really see where you
are and where you're going.
 How do we read maps?

• Maps are selective views of reality

• Size of the map relative to reality
(scale)
• What’s on the map (symbolization)
• Shape of the map (projection)
 Scale
►Maps are made to scale; that is, there
is a direct connection between a unit of
measurement on the map and the
actual distance.
►For example, each inch on the map
represents one mile on Earth. So, a
map of a town would show a mile-long
strip of fast food joints and auto
dealers in one inch.
 Scale
• The scale helps
you measure the
distance
betweeen two
places. When you
know the distance
you can calculate
how long the trip
will take.
 Map scale
• Ratio of the distance on the map to the
distance on the ground
• Scale is a fraction
• Larger area covered means larger
denominator
• Larger denominator means smaller
fraction
• So a large-scale map covers a small area
 Large-scale

Small-scale
 Map scale
• Ratio of the distance on the map to the
distance on the ground
1. Graphic:

• Stays the same when photocopied

• Might not be right for the whole map
 Map scale

1. Verbal:
1 inch equals 10 miles

• Easy to understand
• Can change if photocopied
 Map scale

1. Representative fraction or ratio:

1:24,000

• Units don’t matter

• Can change if photocopied
Scale
 Orientation
• Direction -- usually
shown on a map using a
compass rose or
directional indicator
 Compass
• The compass
shows the
directions on a
map: north,
south, east,
and west.
 Compass
►A compass is a tool that helps
the user know what direction
one is headed.
►On a map, a compass or a
compass rose helps the user
locate these directions.
 Compass Rose
► The needle on a compass is magnetized to
point to the earth's north magnetic pole.
Thus with a compass, a person can roughly
tell which direction they are headed.
► There are four major or cardinal directions
on a compass- north, south, east & west. In
between are the directions northeast,
northwest, southeast, southwest.
► They help describe the location of places in
relation to other places.

Source: http://aerocompass.larc.nasa.gov
 Relative Location
• Describes a place in
comparison to other
places around it
 Index
• The index tells
you where to find
a specific place on
a map. Depending
on the size and
type of map
you're using, the
index can help
you locate a city,
town, or street.
What are the standard methods
of showing information on a
map?
• Symbols
• Colors
• Lines
• Boundaries
• Contours
 Legend (Key)

• Maps often have

symbols to
represent such
features as
highways, small
roads,
campgrounds, and
rest areas. These
symbols are listed
in the legend.
 Map Legends
► Thelegend is the key to unlocking the
secrets of a map. Objects or colors in the
legend represent something on the map.

Religions
Legend
Age Expectancy

Legend
Can you understand this legend?
 Map symbolization

• Symbols are a code instead of text

• Three kinds: point, line, area
• Consider shape, size, orientation,
pattern, color, value
 Point symbols

• Every symbol counts as one occurrence

• Qualitative points
– Indicate location
– Can also describe that location
• Quantitative points
– Show a distribution
– Indicate a value (graduated symbols)
Indicate location
Describe location
 Show a
distribution
Indicate a value
 Line symbols

• One-dimensional
• Mostly taken for granted (borders,
roads)
• Isolines connect same values
• Flow-line maps indicate value by width
of line
 Isolines
(Contour
lines)
Flow-line maps
 Area symbols

• Each territory or region has one value

• Differences in kind
• Differences in value
– Choropleth maps
– Usually, darker indicates more
• Cartograms distort area to show value
Differences in kind
Differences in kind
Differences in value
(Choropleth)
Cartogram
 Latitude and Longitude
►The earth is divided into lots of lines
called latitude and longitude.
 Lines of latitude
• Imaginary lines that
measure distance north
and south of the equator
 Lines of Longitude

• Imaginary lines that

measure distance east
and west of the Prime
Meridian
 Lines
►Longitude lines run north and south.
►Latitude lines run east and west.
►The lines measure distances in
degrees.

Longitude
Latitude
 Where is 0 degree?
►The equator is 0 degree latitude.
►It is an imaginary belt that runs
halfway point between the North Pole
and the South Pole.

Equator
 P M
E
Where is 0 degree?
R
R
I I
D
► The prime meridianMis 0 degrees
I
longitude. This imaginary
E A line runs through
N
the United Kingdom, France, Spain, western
Africa, and Antarctica.
 Hemispheres
►Byusing the equator and prime
meridian, we can divide the
world into four hemispheres,
north, south, east, and west.
 Time Zones
►The Earth is divided into 24 time
zones, corresponding to 24 hours in a
day.
►As the earth rotates, the sun shines in
different areas, moving from east to
west during the course of a day.
►Places that have the same longitude
will be in the same time zone.
Click to see World Time Zones Map
 Map Projections
• A map projection is a method for
taking the curved surface of the earth
and displaying it on something flat, like a
computer screen or a piece of paper
• Three types of map projections
– Mercator
– Polar
– Robinson
• All three types have distortion
 Map Projections cont.
• Area, shape, distance, and
direction can be distorted.
• A Mercator projection is best
used for ship navigation
because of the nice straight
lines.
 Mercator projection

• Nice Straight lines

 Map Projections cont.
• A Polar projection is best used
in airplane navigation. It is
easy to plot the Great Circle
routes used to fly long
distances.
• A Robinson projection is best
used for data representation.
Most of the maps in textbooks
are Robinson projections.
 Robinson Projection
• Latitude lines are straight. Longitude lines
are curved.
 Sources of geographic
information
• Geographic Information
Systems (GIS), field work,
satellite images, photographs,
maps, globes, data bases,
primary sources
 Mental Maps

• help people carry out daily

activities (ex. route to
school or the store)
• give directions to others
• understand world events
4 ways mental maps can be
developed and refined
• Compare sketched maps to
more formal maps such as
those in an atlas or book
• Describe the location of
places in terms of reference
points (the equator or
Prime Meridian)
4 ways mental maps can be
developed and refined cont.

• Describe the location of

places in terms of
geographic features and
land forms (ex. west of the
Mississippi River, or north
of the Gulf of Mexico)
4 ways mental maps can be
developed and refined cont.
• Describe the location of
places in terms of the
human characteristics of a
place (languages, types of
housing, dress, recreation,
customs, or traditions)
Types
of
Maps
 Thematic Maps
• Thematic maps show a
theme or a particular idea.
There are many different
types.
 Types of Thematic maps
• population density
• population distribution
• economic activity
• resources
• languages
• ethnicity
Types of Thematic maps cont.
• climate
• precipitation
• vegetation
• physical
• political

For example:
 The World Political
• Political maps show how people have divided
places on the Earth into countries, states, cities
and other units for the purpose of governing
them.
 The World Physical
• Physical maps show what the surface
of the Earth looks like.
 Oceans of the
World
• The world has five major oceans.
• Atlantic
• Pacific
• Arctic
• Indian
• Southern
 Global Climates
• What kind of weather do you associate with the
Arctic and Antarctic? What is the climate like at the
poles? This map shows the general climate regions
of the world.
 World Religions
• Religious beliefs help define a people’s
culture, so to understand a people, it is
important to consider what religions
influence that group.
 Topographic maps

• Also called quadrangles

• Nearly 54,000 for the U.S.
• Done by the US Geological Survey
(USGS) since 1897
• Map out the entire country in a
standard fashion
 Topographic maps

• Till the 1940s, you climbed to the

highest point and plotted what you
could see from there
• Aerial photography after WWII
• Two overlapping photos are put in a
stereoscope
• 10 photos for each 7.5 minute map
 Topographic maps
• Show 2D features, point, line and area; also
show 3D via contour lines
• Common symbols are in the appendix of the
text
• What is the contour interval for this map?
(Hint: Count the lines between numbers and
divide.)
 Ways map can show change
• Changes in Knowledge
– Map of Columbus’s time
– Satellite images
• Changes in Place Names
– Formosa, Taiwan, Republic of China
– Palestine, Israel, Occupied
Territories
Ways map can show change cont.
• Changes in Boundaries
–Africa in the 1910s and in
the 1990s
–Europe before WWII and
after WWII and since 1990
Ways map can show change cont.
• Changes in perspectives of
place names
-Arabian Gulf v. Persian Gulf
-Sea of Japan v. East Sea
-Middle East v. North Africa and
Southwest Asia
Ways map can show change cont.

• Changes in Disputed areas

-Korea
-Western Sahara
-Former Yugoslavia
-Kashmir
Pie Chart

• Used to
show parts
of a whole
or
percentages
 Bar graph
90
80 • Used to
show items
70
60

in relation to
50 East
40 West

others
30 North
20
10
0
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Qtr Qtr Qtr Qtr
Line Graph

• Used to
show loss or
gain or
information
over several
time frames
 Population Pyramid
• Shows the
population of a
country or region.
Allows you to
break into male
and female and
by age groups
 Climograph
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10

• J F M A M J J A S
0

• Shows precipitation and

temperature averages over a
one year period
Practical applications of Geography
• recycling programs
• conversion of land
• airport expansion
• bicycle paths
• water sources
• air quality
• mass transit
 Map Review
• What is the purpose of a Political map?

To show borders of countries, states,

cities
 Map Review
• What is the purpose of a Physical map?
• Physical maps show what the surface
of the world looks like
 Map Review
• What are the five major oceans of the
world?
• Atlantic
• Pacific
• Arctic
• Indian
• Southern
 Map Review
• Why is it important to understand a
people’s religion?
• because religion helps shape their
culture