types of maps

1. Types of Maps

2. Types of maps
• There are three major types of maps
– Physical
– Political
– Thematic
Within each type of map there are hundreds of maps that can
be produced.

3. Physical Maps
– Show physical landforms and bodies of water (natural features that
were around before humans)
• mountain ranges
• rivers
• lakes
– Show physical borders (borders defined by a physical feature)
• Rio Grande River, between USA and Mexico

4. Types of physical maps
• topographic maps
– portrayal of the Earth’s surface
• relief maps
– show elevation and depressions of terrain
– use shading
• contour maps
– show elevation and depressions of terrain
– uses lines that are joined at equal elevations

5. Topographical Maps

6. Relief Map

7. Topographical Map
Relief Map

9. Contour Map Relief Map

10. Political Maps
• Show man made boundaries
– divisions between:
• countries
• cities
• states
• neighborhoods
• Show features on the earth’s surface that humans created.

11. Political World Map

13. County Political Maps

15. Thematic Maps
• Emphasize a particular
theme or topic about an
area
– usually represent data collection
statistics
• can be presented as
– shaded maps
– dot maps
– flow line maps
– symbol maps
There are numerous kinds
of thematic of maps. Some
common thematic maps:
•Population maps
•Weather maps
•Natural resource maps
•Road maps
•Land usage maps
•Economic activity maps
•Transportation maps

16. • Climate- can show things like annual rainfall, average temps,
etc.

17. • Economic- shows economic activities or natural resources
present in areas

18. • Road- Shows major and minor highways and roads, as well
as airports, city locations, and points of interest.

19. 1. You are trying to figure out where the largest mountain chain in the word
is located.
What type of map would you use? Why?
2. You are trying to figure out what highway you should take to drive from
Houston to New York.
What type of Map should you use? Why?
3. You want to see what parts of the US receive the highest annual rainfall.
What map should you use? Why?
4. You want to see how steep a mountain climbs.
What type of map should you use? Why?
5. You want to see which countries border Russia.
What type of Map should you use? Why?
Practice

20. Practice
Identify the maps on the following slides.
Are they physical, political or thematic maps.