Maps contain essential features to help readers understand the information. These features include a title, grid, scale, legend, and directions. The title identifies the map. A grid uses horizontal and vertical lines of latitudes and longitudes. The scale provides the ratio between distances on the map and ground. A legend uses symbols to represent features that are difficult to depict clearly. Directions are shown using cardinal points like N, E, W, S and intermediate directions.

1. ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF MAPS

2. INTRODUCTION
• maps provides lots of information but
one must know to read and
understand. Certain maps are
provided with tools or aids to
understand the are called essential
features of map
Title
Grid
Scale
Legend
Direction

3. TITLE

5. DIRECTION
• N E W S
(CARDINAL
POINTS)
• LETTER N
DENOTES north
line as the arrow
pointes towards the
geographical north

6. N E W S (CARDINAL POINTS)

7. INTERMEDIATE DIRECTIONS

8. SCALE
• It is not possible to show all the places on the map in their actual proportion,
therefore the places are reduced in size. This reduction is based on SCALE.
• It’s a RATIO BETWEEN DISTANCE ON MAPAND DISTANCE ON A
GROUND

9. Legend
• On map its very difficult to show all the features such as settlements , bridges
post office railway lines. They are depicted using CONVENTIONAL SIGNS
AND SYMBOLS

10. GRID
• Horizontal and vertical lines drawn on
map , which criss-cross each other
forms a network or grid.
• These lines are measured in Degrees
parallel of latitudes
meridians of longitude

11. Parallel of latitudes
• A set of an imaginary lines drawn
horizontally between the poles and
parallel to each other.
• Runs in E-W direction
• Exactly midway two poles is known as
equator

12. Meridians of longitude
• A set of an imaginary lines drawn
vertically.
• Runs in N-S direction