types of maps year2

A L M U D E N A C O R RA L E S M A R B Á N

TYPES OF M

APS

2 N D GR A D E R S . S

O C I AL S

T U D I ES D

E P A R T M E N T


1. INTRODUCTION

In geography, maps are one of the most important tools researchers, cartographers, students and others can use to examine the entire Earth or a specific part of it.


2. WHAT IS A MAP?

Simply defined, maps are pictures of the Earth's surface.

They can be general reference and show landforms,

political boundaries, water, the locations of cities, or in

the case of thematic maps, show different but very

specific topics such as the average rainfall distribution for an

area or the distribution of a certain disease throughout a

county. Today with the increased use of GIS, also known as

Geographic Information Systems, thematic maps are growing

in importance.


3. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAPS


3.1. POLITICAL MAPSA political map does not show any topographic features. It

instead focuses solely on the state 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 U.S. states and their borders along with the United

States' north and south international borders or for us the

POLITICAL MAP OF EUROPE!

Have a try and write down the name of the states and

their capitals in a separate sheet of paper.

1…………….

2………………..


3.2. PHYSICAL MAPS

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 is always shown with

blue. Mountains and elevation changes are usually shown with

different colors and shades to show relief. Normally on physical maps

green shows lower elevations while browns show high 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. Rivers are shown in

blue.


3.3. THEMATIC MAPSA 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.


This simple thematic map divides global life expectancy into three colors - green for high life expectancy, yellow for medium, and red for low life expectancy. It is an example of a choropleth thematic map. Matt Rosenberg, About.com

These choropleth thematic maps are the ones we use the most at secondary school.


4. THEMATIC MAPS THROUGH HISTORYThematic maps did not develop as a map type until the mid-17th

Century because accurate base maps were not present prior to this time.

Once they became accurate enough to display coastlines, cities and other

boundaries correctly, the first thematic maps were created. In 1686 for

example, Edmond Halley, an astronomer from England, developed a

star chart. In that same year, he published the first meteorological

chart using base maps as his reference in an article he published about

trade winds. In 1701, Halley also published the first chart to show lines of

magnetic variation- a thematic map that later became useful in

navigation.

Halley's maps were largely used for navigation and the study of the

physical environment.


MAIN SOURCES:

http://geography.about.com/

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world.html

types of maps year2

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