Maps

Question 1

What is an atlas?

Answer 1

An atlas is a book which contains a collection of maps of different places of the world.

Question 2

What is a map?

Answer 2

A map is a pictorial or graphical representation of an area or region. (It is a smaller representation). It shows different types of information which result in different types of maps.

Question 3

Why do we need maps?

Answer 3

1) To help us find our way to somewhere.
2) To find out where another country is.
3)To compare the shape and size of one country with another.

Question 4

What are the seven types of maps?

Answer 4

1) Political,
2) Relief,
3) Economic,
4) Climate,
5) Weather,
6) Choropleth
7) Geological

(Review power point in notes for examples)

Question 5

What are relief maps?

Answer 5

Relief maps are also known as physical, topographic and orographic maps. These maps show the physical landscape e.g. mountains, valleys and plains. In this way, they are showing the various heights of the land above sea level by using various shades of green, brown and purple. These maps also show other features such as rivers and natural vegetation and triangular symbols ∆ which are used to show the heights of mountains or hills.

Question 6

What are political maps?

Answer 6

These maps show the administrative boundaries or borders of countries or regions within a country. (Different colors are used to show the political divisions. These colors have no meaning).

Question 7

What are economic maps?

Answer 7

These show the various resources a country has available so as to earn income or foreign exchange e.g. the crops that are grown and animals reared (agriculture) in a country, types of minerals mined from the earth’s crust and various other industries.

Question 8

What are climate maps?

Answer 8

These show the average climate of a place over a given period of time. These climate maps e.g. Guyana page 55 may show the variations in temperature for a year, the distribution of rainfall. Unlike the weather map, it is based on information collected over a period of years. They may also show the wind and pressure that is the prevailing winds and pressure systems of a place.

Question 9

What are weather maps?

Answer 9

These display the existing weather conditions of a particular place during a particular time. They are called synoptic charts.

Question 10

What are choropleth maps?

Answer 10

These show density or value by using different colors with the darker shades representing high numbers and the lighter shades representing lower numbers. They must have a key to explain what the different shades mean. They can be used to show the distribution of population in a particular place.

Question 11

What are geological maps?

Answer 11

These maps show the types of rocks and rock distribution in an area.

Question 12

What are the elements of a good map?

Answer 12

1. A title: This gives information on what the map contains.
2. A key/legend: This tells you what the colors or the symbols represent on the map.
3. A scale: This tells you how much the area has been reduced in size. The scale of the map shows the relationship between distances on the map and distances on the ground. A scale is shown in three ways:
   a) In words e.g. 1 cm represents 10 km
   b) Ratio e.g. 1cm:10km
   c) Line scale e.g.
4. A frame/border
5. Compass directions or a North arrow