Maps are diagrams that represent physical features and areas of land or sea. They have certain standard elements like a title, legend, scale, and grid that provide important information about what is shown and how to interpret it. These elements include the title, legend, scale, grid, and orientation that provide details on what the map shows, what symbols mean, distances and locations.

1. Interpreting Maps

2. What are Maps?
• Maps are Defined as:
– A diagrammatic representation of an area of land or sea
showing physical features, cities, roads, etc.
• “Dia” Picture
• “Gram” Something Written
• “Diagrammatic” a Picture that explains rather than
represents

3. Characteristics of Maps
• Two dimensional
• Usually only shows parts of the Earth’s surface

4. Parts of a Map
• Maps all have certain
elements that are important
when you read them.
• These elements allow you to
understand what is being
measured and how it is being
measured.
• Time
• Orientation
• Date
• Author
• Legend
• Scale
• Symbols
• Index
• Grid

5. • The Title tells you the subject of the map.
Gives you insight into what information the map
will convey.

6. • Orientation/Compass Rose- tells you where North is on a
map (then you can figure out the other directions) unless
otherwise specified North is always up.

7. • Date
– when the map was published
or
– time span represented on map
*Important for accuracy of changing information.

8. • The Author tells you who developed and
published the map.

9. • The Legend or Key explains what colors or symbols
mean.
• Symbols are normally present in the
legend/key . They represent
information such as capital cities,
natural resources or economic
activities.

10. • Scale tells you the ratio of distance between things on a map
to the actual, real-life distance between things.

11. • The Index is a list of names of places listed in alphabetical
order that correspond to an alpha-numeric area on a grid.

12. • Grid- a set of horizontal and vertical lines meant to identify location.
*can be alpha-numeric (think BATTLESHIP) or the lines of latitude and
longitude

13. What color represents the highest elevation? What color represents
the lowest elevation?
Where did you look to figure this out?
Darker Red
Key/ Legend

14. What continent
does this map
show?
Where did you
look to figure
this out?
Europe
Title

15. How would you figure
out the distance
between LA and
Boston?
Where would you look
and how would you
figure this out?
Measuring the distance
using the scale
SCALE

16. What would you use to
determine the absolute
location of Cape Town,
South Africa?
Using the Grid