Lesson 11 Comparing Types

of Maps
What You Will Learn
To use maps with different themes S uppose you are planning a trip to another country. What
would you like to know about that country before you leave
home? What language is spoken there? Where are the country’s
Reading Strategy interesting places to visit located? Should you take clothes for
warm weather, or cold?
Create a diagram like the one below.
These are just a few of the things you can learn from maps. In
In each of the outer circles, write an
fact, there are almost as many kinds of maps as there are kinds of
example of a feature you would find
information to show on them. Let’s look at some of the different
on a typical physical map.
kinds of maps and what they can tell us about our world.

Using Physical Maps

Map A physical map shows how the land looks. Mountains, rivers,
Features plains, and lakes—the physical features of the land—are shown
on a physical map. Sometimes a physical map shows the height of
the land above sea level. It may use colors and shading to show
relief—or how flat or rugged the land surface is. This kind of phys-
ical map is called a relief map.
Look at Map 1-13: United States: Physical on page 44. Find the
Terms to Know Rocky Mountains. What physical feature lies just east of the
physical map, relief map, political Rocky Mountains? Into what river do the Ohio and Missouri rivers
map, special-purpose map flow? Into what body of water does the Mississippi River flow?
What ocean lies east of the United States? These are all kinds of
information you can find on physical maps.

Using Political Maps

A political map shows how humans have divided the surface of
the earth into countries, states, and other political divisions.
Often, a political map will show some physical features, such as
lakes and rivers, because these are sometimes used as political
boundaries. A political map will show where the boundaries
between countries, states, or counties are located. It may also
show the locations of cities. Unlike physical maps, which remain
fairly constant over time, political maps change as political rela-
tionships shift.
Look at Map 1-14: Australia and New Zealand: Political on page
45. Notice the dashed lines on the map. These show the bound-
aries between states. The letters in SMALL CAPITALS are the names of
the states. Queensland is the name of one state. Can you name

LESSON 11 Comparing Types of Maps 43

 Map 1-13 United States: Physical

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Kahoolawe 0 100 200 300 miles Everglades

GULF OF OCEAN S
ALASKA Hawaii
0 400 miles 0 100 miles 0 200 400 kilometers

0 400 kilometers 0 100 kilometers

the others? What is the capital of Australia? What show the distribution of particular activities,
tells you it is the capital? What are some other resources, or products in a given area. Colors and
cities shown on the map? symbols represent the location or distribution of
activities and resources.
Using Special-Purpose Maps Many times maps will be a combination of phys-
Maps that emphasize a single idea or a particu- ical, political, and special-purpose. For example, a
lar kind of information about an area are called special-purpose map that shows what products
special-purpose maps. There are many kinds of are produced in the United States will usually have
special-purpose maps, each designed to serve a state boundaries shown. What kind of map shows
different need. Population density maps, time zone boundaries? A land-use map may also show major
maps, and climate maps are among the different rivers. What kind of map shows rivers?
kinds of special-purpose maps. You will learn to When you read a map, what should you look at
read these and other kinds of special-purpose first? In order to know what the map is about, you
maps later in this book. must first look at the map’s title. The title may be
Some special-purpose maps—such as eco- at the top or bottom of the map, or it may be in a
nomic activity maps and natural resource maps— box with the legend.

44 LESSON 11 Comparing Types of Maps

 Map 1-14 Australia and New Zealand: Political

120°E 130°E 140°E 150°E 160°E 180°E

160°E
INDIAN OCEAN
10°S
N CORAL
TIMOR SEA SEA

W E

S
PACIFIC OCEAN

NORTHERN
TERRITORY 0 250 500 miles
20°S 20°S
QUEENSLAND 0 250 500 kilometers
AUSTRALIA

WESTERN SOUTH
AUSTRALIA Brisbane 168°E 176°E
AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH 30°S

WALES
30°S 38°S 38°S
Perth Adelaide Sydney NEW
Canberra ZEALAND
VICTORIA Wellington
Melbourne
TASMAN SEA
Launceston 46°S 46°S
40°S
110°E TASMANIA
120°E 130°E 140°E Hobart 160°E 168°E 176°E
LEGEND
Capitals Major cities

LESSON 11 Comparing Types of Maps 45

 Using Your Skills
Reviewing Key Terms
Match each term with its meaning. Draw a line from each term to its
definition.
1. political map a. a kind of map that shows features of the land
2. physical map b. a kind of map that gives one particular kind of information
3. special-purpose map c. a kind of map that shows how humans have
divided the earth into countries and states

Practicing Map Skills

Use Map 1-15: Ethiopia, 2001 below to answer the questions.
1. What is the title of this map? Ethiopia, 2001

2. What part of the map tells you what the symbols on the map mean? the legend

3. What do the solid black lines on the map stand for? national boundaries

4. What does on the map stand for? mountains

5. What does on the map stand for? railroad

6. Would you call this a physical map, a political map, a special-purpose

map, or a combination of all three? Why?
It is a combination of all three types. It shows political boundaries and cities. It shows physical features

such as mountains and rivers. It also shows special features such as roads, railroads, airports, and seaports.

Map 1-15 Ethiopia, 2001

N
RED
SEA
W E

LEGEND
Gonder Major Road
Lake
Tana Dese Railroad
Nile Dire
Airport
Bl u

e Dawa
Addis Ababa Mountains
Harer
Capital
Jıma
Jimma National Boundary

Major City
Lake
Rudolf Nagele
0 280 miles
0 450 kilometers

46 LESSON 11 Comparing Types of Maps