Political and Physical Maps

Using Map Color

Cartographers (map-makers) use color on maps to represent certain features. Color use is often consistent across different types of maps by different cartographers or publishers. Map colors should always be consistent on a single map.

Map Differences

Political maps show more human created features (especially boundaries) and usually use more map colors than physical maps, which represent the landscape.

Political maps will often use four or more colors to represent different countries or internal divisions of countries (such as states).

Physical Maps only show the landscape or natural earth (elevations, rivers, oceans, mountains, etc.)

Types of Maps

Types of Maps Video

Cardinal Directions Video

Teacher and the Rockbots “How to Read a Map” Video

A political map shows human-created features such as boundaries, cities, highways, roads, and railroads. Physical maps display the natural features of the earth - the location and names of mountains, rivers, valleys, ocean currents, and deserts. Most common maps and globes are a combination of physical and political maps.

Common Colors Used Political maps will also use such colors as blue

for water and black and/or red for cities, roads, and railways. Political maps will also often use black to show boundaries, differing the type of dashes and/or dots used in the line to represent the type of boundary - international, state, or county or other political subdivision.

T.O.D.A.L.

Remember the important features of a map:

Title (Is it Political or Physical? What place is it?)

Orientation (Compass Rose)

Date (Usually Year)

Author (Name on Paper)

Legend (Map Key)

OUR MEXICO MAP KEY

For our Mexico Maps, you will need to use the following Map Key:

Brown (Mountains)

Blue Waves (Seas or Oceans)

Blue Lines (Rivers)

Green (Plains)

Orange (Plateaus)

Yellow (Desert)