Map Skills Vocabulary

a drawing of all or part of Earth's surface whose basic purpose is to show where things are, including visible features, invisible boundaries, and geographical climates

• compass rose

• map

• map scale

• relative location

a figure on a map that is used to identify the directions of locations on a map compared to each other

• cardinal directions

• compass rose

• intermediate directions

• location

the section of a map that explains its symbols representing real objects on the map such as a building, road, lake, tree, or mountain

• landmark

• large-scale map

• map legend

• small-scale map

a ratio (relationship) of the distance on a map to the actual distance on the ground that can usually be found on the outer edge of a map, near the map's key

• cardinal directions

• compass rose

• map

• map scale

the four main directions shown on a compass rose (North, East, South, West)

• cardinal directions

• intermediate directions

• landmark

• map legend

the "in-between" directions that may or may not be labeled on a compass rose (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest)

• cardinal directions

• compass rose

• intermediate directions

• small-scale map

where a place, landmark, or city can be found

• compass rose

• location

• relative location

• map legend

the position of a place as compared to another point or place

• large-scale map

• location

• map

• relative location

a map that shows a larger area without much detail

• compass rose

• large-scale map

• map

• small-scale map

a map that shows a smaller area in great detail

• intermediate directions

• large-scale map

• location

• map scale