TYPES OF MAPS

( PA RT S , E L E M E N T S , A N D F U N C T I O N S )
WHAT IS A MAP?

• A map is a symbolic representation of selected characteristics of a place,

usually drawn on a flat surface. Maps present information about the world in a
simple, visual way. They teach about the world by showing sizes and shapes of
countries, locations of features, and distances between places. Maps can show
distribution of things over Earth, such as settlement patterns. They can show
exact locations of houses and streets in a city neighborhood.
TYPES OF MAPS
• Political Map
A political map does not show any
topographic features. It instead focuses
solely on the states and national
boundaries of a place. They also
include the locations of cities-both large
and small, depending on the detail of
the map. A common type of political
map would be one showing the 50 US
states and their borders along with the
United States’ north and south
international borders.
• Physical Map
A physical map is one that shows the
physical landscape features of a place. They
generally show things like mountains, rivers
and lakes, and water which is shown in blue
color. Mountains and elevation changes are
usually shown with different colors and
shades to show relief. Normally on physical
maps, green shows lower elevations while
brown shows higher elevations. An example
of a physical map is one showing the state of
Hawaii. Low elevation coastal regions are
shown in dark green, while the higher
elevations transition from orange to dark
brown and rivers shown in blue.
• Topographic Map
A topographic map is similar to a physical map
in that it shows different physical landscapes
features. They are different however because
they use contour lines instead of colors to show
changes in the landscape. Contour lines on
topographic maps are normally spaced at
regular intervals to show elevation changes and
when lines are close together the terrain is
steep. For example a topographic map showing
the Big Island of Hawaii would have contour
lines that are close together near the steep, high
elevation mountains of Mauna Loa and
Kilauea. By contrast, the low elevation, flat
coastal areas show contour lines that are spread
apart.
• Climate Maps
A climate map shows the information
about the climate of an area. They can
show things like the specific climatic
zones of an area based on the
temperature, the amount of snow an
area receives or average number of
cloudy days. These maps normally use
colors to show different climatic areas.
A climate of Australia for example uses
colors to show differences between the
temperature area of Victoria and desert
region in the center of the continent.
• Economic or Resource Map
An economic or resource map shows the
specific type of economic activity or
natural resources present in an area
through the use of different symbols or
colors depending on what is being
shown in the map. For example an
economic activity map for Brazil can
use colors to show different agricultural
products of given areas, letters for
natural resources and symbols for
different industries.
• Road Maps
A road map is the most widely used type of
map. These maps shows major and minor
highways and roads as well as things like
airports, city locations and points of interest
like parks, campgrounds, and monuments.
Major highways on a road map are
generally red and larger than the other
roads, while minor roads are a lighter color
and a narrower line. A road map of Spain
for example would show the major
highway as a wide red line and other large
roads as a lighter red.
• Thematic Maps
A thematic map is a map that focuses on
a particular theme or special topic and
they are different from the six
aforementioned general reference maps
because they do not just show natural
features like rivers, cities, political
subdivisions, elevation and highways. If
these items are on a thematic map, they
are background information and are
used as reference points to enhance the
map’s theme.
PARTS AND ELEMENTS OF A MAP
• Primary map – the primary map contains the main data frame and data layers giving them visual
representation.

• Map title – the title of a map is one of its vital features. It is the keyword that grabs the reader’s attention.
Map titles are displayed with large fonts and reflects the purpose of the map.

• Scale – a map’s scale indicates the relationship between the distances on the map and the actual distances
on the Earth. Distance and scale can be indicated in variety of ways on a map; verbal, numeric, or graphic
form. Scales bar graphically show the distance on the map with bars(or ticks) and measured units.

• Symbols – cartographers use symbols to represent geographic features. For example, black dots represent
cities, circled stars represent capital cities, and different sorts of lines represent boundaries, roads,
highways, and rivers. Colors are often used as symbols. Green is associated for forests, tan for deserts,
and blue for water.
• North arrow – north arrows indicate the orientation of the map and maintain a connection to the data
frame. North arrows point in the geographic north cardinal direction and help orientate oneself. When that
data frame is rotated, the north arrow element rotates with it.

• Neat line – neat lines wrap map contents with one solid boarder helping readers lock their eyes in the
map.

• Legends – provide valuable information about the map contents symbology, colors, and textual
information. Descriptions detailing any color schemata, symbology or categorization is explained here.
Without the legend, the color scheme on the map would make no sense to the viewers.

• Labels – labels are the words that identify a location. They show places (streets, rivers, and
establishments) with specific names and can also be used to represent something if there is only one of it,
instead of making up a symbol to just represent one thing.
• Locator map – locator maps clarify small or large geographic extents by providing smaller, separate
maps.

• Map credits – map credits reveal data sources with date, cartographer name, projection, and date of the
map.

• Graticules/Grids – graticules are lines of latitude and longitude or measured units that run horizontally or
vertically.

• Index – index helps the map reader find a particular location by following the numbers and letters in the
grid. The index is mainly in alphabetical order that makes it easy to look up to the name of the place.
There are coordinates next to the location on the map.

• Disclaimer – disclaimers are optional statements that address the legal repercussions of mapping and
liability.
GROUP 2:
Bacang, Wilgelyn
Bulahan, Rayoniel
Depillo, Ronito
Dionaldo, Hanna Jane
Grafia, Niko
Leong, Ghea Lerv
Silot, Kyle
Virador, Nicola