This document outlines key features and components of maps. It discusses that maps symbolically represent characteristics of places on flat surfaces. The two essential features are a title, which provides information about the map's content, and direction indicators like cardinal and intermediate directions. Other components covered include scale, legends, common geographic symbols, and grid systems using parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude.

1. Essential
features of maps
Chapter 2

2. Maps
 A map is a symbolic representation of
selected characteristics of a place, usually
drawn on a flat surface.
 Two essential features of maps are:
 Title
 Direction

3. Title
 The map title tells us what kind of information
is provided in it.

4. Direction
 Cardinal directions
 N - NORTH
 E – EAST
 S – SOUTH
 W – WEST

5. Intermediate directions
 The directions in
between the cardinal
directions are the
intermediate directions.
 North-east(NE)
 North-west(NW)
 South-east(SE)
 South-west(SW)

6. Scale
 Verbal scale
 States the ratio
 One inch equal five miles
 Linear scale
 Helps in direct measurement.
|---------|---------|---------|
 Representative fraction scale
 Shows as a ratio or fraction.
12:22 or 12/22
 1 inch (on the map)and 24000 inches (on the earth)

7. Legends
 The common signs
and symbols that are
internationally
accepted and used in
maps are called
conventional symbols.
 Every map has a
legend which explains
the different colours
and symbols used in it.

8. Geographical features
 River
 Meanders
 Tributaries
 Distributaries
 Delta
 Fold mountain
 Block mountain

9. River
 A river is a natural flowing watercourse,
usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean,
sea, lake or another river.

10. Meanders
 A meander is a curve
in a river. Meanders
form a snake-like
pattern as the river
flows across a fairly
flat valley floor. The
position of the curves
changes over time.

11. Tributaries
 A tributary is a river
or stream that feeds
into a larger body of
water.

12. Distributaries
 A branch of a river
that does not return
to the main stream
after leaving it.

13. Delta
 A river delta is a low-
lying plain or
landform that occurs
at the mouth of a
river near where it
flows into an ocean
or another larger
body of water.

14. Fold mountain
 Fold mountains are
mountains that form
mainly by the effects
of folding on layers
within the upper part
of the Earth's crust.

15. Block mountain
 Fault-block
mountains are
formed by the
movement of large
crustal blocks when
forces in the Earth's
crust pull it apart.

16. Grid
 A network formed by
the criss-crossing of
vertical and
horizontal lines on a
map or a globe to
locate a place.

17. Two types of grid:
 Parallels of latitude:
imaginary circular
lines drawn
horizontally between
the two poles and
parallel to each
other.
 Meridians of
longitude : imaginary
lines drawn vertically
from the north pole
to south pole.