Political vs Physical Maps

Physical and Political Maps

​Physical Maps

​Physical maps focus on landforms and elevation. They show mountains, plateaus, rivers, deserts, and any other types of geographical features. Cartographers often use brown, green, or gray color schemes to represent the various physical features and elevations. 

​Physical Maps

​Many physical maps have a key showing color changes and elevation. On this map, the darker blue represents deeper water and the darker brown represents higher elevations.

​Political Maps

​Political maps focus on boundaries between places such as countries, counties, states, provinces, or regions. They may also show major cities, towns, and settlements depending on the purpose of the map.

​Political Maps

​Although political maps do not focus on landforms, they may show some lakes, rivers, and oceans. These physical features are only used to show locations of these landforms. The focus is still on political borders. Like physical maps, political maps also use different colors for different places. The different colors on this map show different states in the USA.

Multiple Choice

What type of map focuses on landforms such as rivers, mountains, and deserts?

• political

• physical

Multiple Choice

What type of map shows different elevations in water and on land?

• political

• physical

Multiple Choice

What type of map focuses on borders between states?

• political

• physical

Multiple Choice

What type of map shows cities and towns within a certain state?

• political

• physical

Multiple Choice

This map is an example of a _____ map.

• political

• physical

Multiple Choice

This map is an example of a ____ map.

• political

• physical

Multiple Choice

This map is an example of a ___ map.

• political

• physical

Multiple Choice

This map is an example of a ____ map.

• political

• physical

Multiple Choice

Dylan wants to find out what countries are located in Asia. What type of map should Dylan use?

• political

• physical

Multiple Choice

Ava wants to find the highest mountain range in North America. Which type of map should Ava use?

• political

• physical