What is a map?

A map is representation of the earth’s features on a flat surface.

Maps use some standard symbols or codes to show or indicate the location of place like the airport, temple/ church/ mosque/gurudwara, monuments, etc. the symbol are placed on the map at the correct places and a key is provided.

Maps are drawn to represent large areas like states, countries and even the world.

Types of maps

See an atlas for more information on maps. An atlas is a book of maps. It includes different types of maps.

A) Political maps –boundaries of countries, states, and districts- location of cities and important towns.

B) Physical maps- physical features- mountains, rivers, deserts, plateaus, oceans and seas.

C) Climate maps- climate condition like rainfall, temperature, etc.

D) Natural resources map- natural resources, minerals, etc.

E) Commercial map- agriculture, industry, trade centers, ports, etc.

Useful maps

We have other maps like wildlife maps, city maps, etc. City and road maps are extremely useful to tourists. Sometimes maps and created specially for tourists to help them with information of places to see and visit, how to reach there, where to stay, etc.

Maps help us make sense of our world

a) they help us to local places on the surface of the earth

b) The help we to show physical features, climate, vegetation, natural resources, and transportation network etc., of different places on the earth.

c) Maps showing greater details are used by local government offices to study and plan the development of the area.

• Cartography or map making is the science or practice of drawing maps.

• Oldest maps: the oldest known maps are said to be in the form of clay tables found in Mesopotamia nearly 5000 years ago.

Modal maps

Class room map

You could say that teacher’s desk is to the left of the door, the black boar is behind the teacher’s desk, the bookshelves are back of the class and there is dustbin t the right of the teacher’s desk and so on.

If we were to have map like the class above we would know the distances between the objects in the room. This is the view of the class room from above. We can see everything and be able to place them correctly n the drawings.

A key or legend lists the symbol used on a map and tells us what the symbol represent.

A bird’s eye view

The way in which we sow objects in a map or layout id different from the way we see it in a picture or drawing. See in thins from the sides and from the top can present very different views of an object. Look at the pictures given below. The view of on object from above is called a bird’s eye view.

Floor plan

What is floor plan?

A floor plan I a diagram of a room, a building, or a floor of a building as seen from the above. You may also think of it as `top view’ or `bird’s eye view’. The term may be used in general to describe any drawing showing the physical layout of objects.

Area maps

Jus as we have plans or layout maps for rooms and floors, there are similar layout maps for larger areas like neighborhoods, towns cities, etc. it is easy to located small buildings and projects n small area. But large area like the market place or neighborhood need maps that are marked with the names of roads, buildings and other important locations like hospitals, railway stations, airports, etc.