Map Vocabulary

This type of map shows major and some minor roads. It can be used for planning a driving route.

• Physical Map

• Road Map

• Political Map

This is the differences in elevation shown on a map.

• Scale

• Longitude

• Relief

This type of map shows physical features of an area such as mountains, rivers and lakes.

• Political Map

• Physical Map

• Road Map

This system uses lines of latitude and longitude to pinpoint a place on a map or globe.

• Grid System

• Scale

• Compass Rose

This gives you information about the area shown on the map and sometimes on the type of map.

• Title

• Scale

• Legend

This is the place on the map where the symbols are defined.

• Title

• Legend

• Scale

This is a small ruler on the map that shows what real-life distance is represented by a certain length on the map.

• Legend

• Title

• Scale

This shows the cardinal directions of North, South, East, and West.

• Compass Rose

• Legend

• Scale

These are imaginary lines running east and west that are part of the grid system.

• Longitude

• Latitude

These are imaginary lines running north and south that are part of the grid system.

• Latitude

• Longitude