Basic Map Elements

Maps are used for two reasons: to store and communicate that information to others

The science of creating maps is called cartography

• Cartography: the science or practice of making maps

Process in Creating a Map

1. establish the map’s purpose

2. simplification is used to determine what information is needed for a map, or the amount of detail needed to make the map information valuable

• Simplification: the process of eliminating unnecessary details on a map

3. Basic elements are added to the map

• basic elements include: title, compass rose, scale, toponyms, and a legend or key

Parts of a Map

• Compass rose: the map’s directional indicator

• Toponym: a place name

• Symbol: symbols indicate something like the symbol of a circle around a start which indicates a national capital

• Legend: explains what the symbols on the map mean

• Distance Scale: compares a unit of length on the map to a unit on Earth

Identifying Map Elements

Maps reveal info about a place like human and physical features

• Physical features are the natural features of Earth, such as mountains, lakes, and deserts

• Human features are geography features that human beings made, such as infrastructure (roads, bridges, tunnels), landmarks, and cities

Creating a Map

Cartographers use projection to identify the method used to show Earth and to alert the viewer of possible distortions. There are 3 main categories of map projections: planar, conical, and cylindrical

• Projection is a method of showing the curved Earth on a flat surface

Distance refers to the distance between the shapes on the map, and direction refers to the precision of the cardinal directions and intermediate directions on a map

• Cardinal directions are associated with the compass points north, south, east, and west

• Intermediate directions are associated with northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast