Basic Feature of Maps Title Date Legend or

Basic Feature of Maps • • Title Date Legend (or key) North Arrow (can be overused) – magnetic vs. true north • • Neatline Coordinate system/Projection Datum Date edited

Map Characteristics • Scale (Scale can never be totally accurate all over the map, unless the map covers a very small area. ) – Ratio between distance on map to distance on Earth – Small scale - cover large area (coarse) • e. g. 1 : 1, 000 – Large scale - shows more detail (fine) • e. g. the 1 : 2, 400 – Types: Representative fraction, linear, verbal • Resolution – accuracy that location and shape can be depicted – Diminishes with scale 10

Topographical vs. Thematic Maps • Topographical – Maps whose primary purpose is to indicate the general lay of the land – outline natural features – topographical maps often show other features such as roads, boundaries, rail links • Thematic Maps – displays geographic concepts • • population density climate land use etc. 6

Types of Thematic Maps • Chloropleth Maps – A thematic map in which areas are colored or shaded to reflect the density of the mapped phenomenon • census tracts, etc. • Area Class Maps – maps that display information by constant attribute • e. g. coniferous Vs deciduous forest 7

Types of Thematic Maps • Isopleth (Isoline) Maps (Topographic can really be considered a type of thematic map) – maps showing imaginary surfaces -connects all points with equal value - Isolines • contours • pressure • temperature • pollution levels – Isolines are: • • drawn at regular intervals never cross they are closed lines values inside are higher than outside 8