How are different
types of maps
distinguished?
Political Maps
• Usually colored by country or by state
• Political colors make it easy to compare
size, shape, and location
• Bold letters often make the country names
stand out
• Symbols make it easy to tell capitals from
other cities
• Political maps also name certain physical
features, such as rivers and lakes
World Political Map
Physical Map
• Has colors that make natural patterns
stand out
• The colors on the map can stand for types
of vegetation, mountain, and natural
features
• Names of big natural features are easy to
see
• Physical maps also include some political
information, such as boundaries
World Physical Map
Climate Map
• The climate of a place is the weather it has
season by season, year after year
• Rainfall and temperature are climate’s
main ingredients
• Climate is affected by elevation, distance
from the ocean, and latitude
World Climate Map
Land Use Resource Map
These maps show how land is
being used. This might refer to:
• vegetation
• crops being grown
• forest vs. Agriculture
• mines and wells
• city zoning.
Contour maps
Contour lines
represent the
elevation at that
line. If you
were to walk
across a line,
you
are changing
elevation.
Contour map
Elevation Maps
Maps that show
elevation
change by
using color or
shading.
Elevation Map
• What is the average elevation of
most of our state?
Elevation Map of Tennessee
Elevation Map
Elevation Map
Topographic Map
These maps generally represent a
small area with a lot of detail. They
show elevation with contour lines,
natural and man-made features.
Topographic Map
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Types of Maps
1. This map represents a small area with lots of detail. It has
contour lines as well as natural and man-made features.
_______________
2. This map uses colors to show height above sea level.
____________________________
3. These colorful maps show lines that people use to divide
countries and states. They also show major cities.
_____________________
4. These maps show physical features on the Earth like rivers,
mountains, and deserts. ____________________________
5. These maps show how land is being used. For example,
they might show which crops are being grown or what
animals are being raised. __________________________
6. These maps show climate regions. ___________________
