Understanding Map Types and Features

What is a map?

• A drawing of a house

• A representation of some part of the Earth's surface

• A list of cities

• A type of book

What do physical maps show?

• Country borders

• Historical events

• Natural features like mountains and rivers

• Road networks

What information can you find on a political map?

• Mountain ranges

• Ocean depths

• Country borders and cities

• Historical battles

What kind of map would show the movement of armies during a war?

• A physical map

• A political map

• A historical map

• A road map

What part of a map tells you what the symbols, lines, and colors mean?

• The scale

• The compass rose

• The labels

• The legend (key)

What are labels on a map used for?

• To show directions

• To indicate distance

• To explain features or places

• To represent natural resources

What does a compass rose on a map indicate?

• The map's scale

• The type of terrain

• The cardinal directions

• The population density

What does a map's scale represent?

• The map's age

• The ratio between distances on the map and in real life

• The map's overall size

• The number of cities shown