MAP READING & INTERPRETATION

A map is a portion or part of the features of the earth’s surface drawn to scale on a
plane surface such as paper, card, plastic, cloth or some other material. Or a map
is a representation on any plane surface of the features of part or portion of the
earth’s surface drawn to scale.

ESSENTIALS OF A MAP.

A map must have the five essentials:-

(i) A title – This is used to tell us what the map is about

(ii) A key –This is used to identify and interpret the signs and symbols used
on that map
(iii) A margin –This is used to bound the area shown by the map
(iv) North direction – To indicate the north direction on a map
(v) Scale –To show the relationship between the distance on that map and
that ob the ground.

THE USES OF MAPS TO THE GEOGRAPHY STUDENTS:

Map like topographical maps are particularly useful to geographers because:-

(i) They provide a basis for an orderly geographical description of a region.

(ii) The provide much information on the nature and distribution of
geographical situation e.g. Population distribution and settlements.
(iii) They are essential to any field study.
(iv) They are used to produce personal maps to explain about the research
projects and other projects.

Types of Maps

There are many types of maps. Most of these maps are grouped into major types
of:-

1. Topographic maps. 2. Statistical or Distribution maps.

 (i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)

1.1

1.1 Topographic maps

The word topography is derived from the Greek word topos, which means place.

Topography is a term used to describe all physical features of a given area.

Topographic maps are small-scale drawings of a part of the earth’s surface. These
maps show:-

(a) Location
The geographic location in a map may be shown by using:-
(i) Compass bearing.
(ii) Grid reference.
 (iii) Latitude and longitude.
(iv) Political and administrative boundaries.
(v) Use of place names.
(b) Landscape
Some of the landscape features shown on a topographic map are
mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, lakes, rivers, seas, oceans and shape of
coast lines.
(c) Cultural features
Some of the cultural features or artificial features are roads, railways, cities,
towns, dams and other structures built by man.
Most of the topographic maps in Tanzania are produced by the Lands and
Survey Department. To make these maps, airplanes are used to take
pictures for an area for the first survey. Late, only certain points on land
need to be measured and surveyed by surveyors. When all the necessary
data has been compiled it is then used to print and produce maps.

Uses of topographic maps

(i) Topographic maps are useful for describing features of the earth’s
surface.
(ii) People use maps t reach their direction. That is the direction where
to go and how far to go.
(iii) Builders use maps to plan the best use of land.
(iv) Road builders use maps to design new roads.
(v) Farmers use maps to plan the best use of their farmlands.
1.2 Statistical or Distribution maps.
The statistical or distribution maps are the type of maps which have been
made with the help of exact statistics. These maps show such things as
distribution of rainfall, temperature, pressure, vegetation, crops, minerals
and many other things. The commonly used Statistical or Distribution maps
are the Atlas maps.
 Atlas maps.
(a) They are maps drawn on small scales.
(b) They show whole countries, continents or even the world on a single sheet
of paper or page.
(c) They show generalized information. They do not include or show a great
amount of detail as shown in topographic maps.
(d) Atlas maps my be drawn on one map and include and show the distribution
of many things such as crops, minerals, roads, railways, towns, relief,
vegetation and many others. Such details may be shown by the use of
colors, signs and symbols.
(e) Atlas maps ate simple, easy to read and interpret. They are easy to draw or
to reproduce.

Uses of statistical and distribution maps

(i) They are useful for describing the distribution of many things found on
the earth’s surface or showing certain selected features such as physical,
political, historical or economic features.
(ii) They are useful for showing generalised information on large or small
areas.

Some examples of the uses of the statistical or distribution maps.

(i) Physical maps show the arrangement or the distribution of mountains,

hills, uplands, lowlands, rivers and so on.
(ii) Political maps show areas with their political and administrative
boundaries.
(iii) Climatic maps show the distribution of temperatures, rainfall, pressure,
winds, climatic regions, etc.
(iv) Historical empires and historical sites, for example. Olduvai Gorge.
(v) Economic maps show the distribution of chief crops, animals, industries,
roads, mines, etc.
 SCALE OF A MAP

A scale is the relationship or ratio between the distance on map and the true
distance on the earth’s surface.’

Scale= Distance on map

Distance on earth’s surface
THE USES OF SCALE:

(i) Helps map interpreter to calculate distance, area and computation of

other facts.
(ii) Helps contractors, engineers to design appropriate plans for bridges,
railway lines etc.
(iii) Helps economists and geographers in establishing the projects.
(iv) Helps map maker to represent a part of the earth’s surface on a small
piece of paper.
(v) Helps map makers t draw maps.

Expression of scales

There are three types of scales:-

1. Statement scale. 2. Representative fraction scale. 3. Linear Scale.

1. STATEMENT OF SCALE
This is the way of expressing the scale by using words. Example: 1:500,000
or 1cm to 5km.
This means that one centimeter on the map represent five kilometers on
the actual ground.
NOTE: Statement scale is written in cm to km.
LINEAR SCALE DIAGRAM
 Where by

M-meters

Km =kilometers

II. SECONDARY SIVISION

This is important part of the linear scale which is found at left hand side of the
graph and is shown by using meters.

III. BAR LINEAR SCALE

This is a way of expressing the scale by using line divided into sections and each
section represents one centimeter on the map Bar linear scale is also divided into
two parts: namely

(i) Secondary division (iii) Primary division

(ii) Example Construct the bar linear scale by using the scale of 1:700,000

Solution

Bar linear scale is a way of expressing the scale by using line divided into sections
and each section represent one centimeter on the map.
To change 1: 700,000 into kilometer on the map.
100,000cm…………………………km
7000,000…………………….?
700000cm x 1 kilometer =7km
100000cm
2.2. Representative fraction scale.
A representative fraction or R.F. in short is a means of expressing the relative size
o f a map or drawing in terms of a fraction. R.F. scale is frequently expresses as a
fraction with the the numerator as one. The ratio means that-One unit on the
map represents a given number of units on the ground.

Example:

One centimeter equals to one kilometer. This scale means that 1 cm on the map
represents 100,000 cm on the ground. (1km-100 cm x 1,000 cm). As a
representative fraction it is written as a fraction.

(b) The Small Section or Secondary Section

It is placed at the left hand side of the line scale. This section is sub –divided
into fractions indicating the smaller units of measurements, for example o,
¼ , ½, ¾ , 1 km. or 0,250,500, 750, 1,000 meters.
2.4 Selection of Scales

The selection of the type of scale depends on the size of the area and amount of
details to be shown on a particular map. The larger the area of the map, the less
details that can be shown. The smaller the area of the map, the more details that
can be shown, for example. The map of Tanzania will show less details than a
town map for example Tanga. The size of the map so depends on the size of the
scale. There are three types of scales:-

(i) Small Scale (ii) Medium Scale

1: 10,000,000 or 1cm: 100 km 1: 500,000 or 1 cm: 5 km
1: 1,000,000 or 1 cm: 10 km 1:250,000 or 1 cm: 2.5 km
(ii) Large Scale

1: 50,000 or 1 cm: 0.5 km

1: 25,000 or 1 cm: 0.25 km

Note that:

(a) In small scale maps the ratio has a large number or large denominator for
example,
1
1,000,000
 The map shows less details as it covers a large area on a piece of paper for
instance, Atlas map of the world, Africa or Tanzania.
(b) In medium and large scale maps the ratio has a smaller number or smaller
denominator, for example, 1
50,000

R.F.1: 250.000
(MEDIUM SCALE MAP)

MTANG’ATA BAY
 A B
(a). MEASURE THE TWO POINTS AB.

1¾ ½ ¼ 0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETRES

(b)MEASURE THE DISTANCE ON LINEAR SCALE

 DIVISION METHOD FOR MEASURING LONG DISTANCES WITH
BENDS AND CURVES

Add up all the measurements

AB 1.0 BC -1.5 DE -2.0 Total length -7.0 kilometers
(b)Stepping method
Procedure
(i) Open and set the pair of dividers to a known short distance by using
the linear scale, for example, quarter or half a kilometer.
(ii) Follow the river, road or line by stepping it using the set devides.
(iii) Add up the numbers or steps and divide them by the quarter or half a
kilometer, for example number of steps is 10 ½ = 5 kilometers
OR,
Number of steps is 20 ¼ =5 kilometers
Note that if the distance of the last step is less than the set distance of the
dividers, measure it separately and measure its distance on the linear scale. Add
up this distance to the total distance from the steps to get the full distance of the
river, road or line.

STEPPING METHOD MEASURING LONG DISTANCES WITH

BENDS AND CURVES
Direction
“True north” which is given on the map.
“True North” which is given on the map.
v
GRID REFERENCE

Grid reference is a pattern square which is written from easting toward nothing.

Study the diagram below & indicate the asked grid reference.

Relief Features on Maps.