ZJC – O’ level GeOGraphy PAPER 1

MAPWORK NOTES & SKILLS - 2021

BASIC MAP & MAPWORK ORIENTATION  USING A MAP KEY/ LEGEND – CONVENTIONAL
SYMBOLS

- A map is a diagram drawn to scale showing part or the earth’s surface.

- Mapwork skills are tested in Section A of the Geography Paper 1 as a
set of 12 multiple choice questions.
- A 1:50 000 topographical map of Zimbabwe is used.

 TYPES OF MAPS
 Economic maps show places of economic interest such as
industries and mines.
 Political maps show political boundaries/ divisions of the world
such as villages, wards, districts, provinces, countries and
continents.
 Distribution maps show how different items are spread across
the world; e.g. rainfall, soil, population and vegetation.
-they show spatial distribution of different aspects on a given
area.
 Physical maps show relief features in upland and lowland areas
such as mountains, valleys, basins and rivers.
 Topographical maps show both relief and man-made features.
These are the ones commonly used for map reading.

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 GRID REFERENCE SYSTEM

- This is a network of vertical and horizontal lines which cross each

other to create perfect squares (grid squares).
- On 1:50 000 topographical maps, each square is 2cm (20mm) x 2cm
(20mm); representing 1km² on the actual ground.

 The vertical lines are known as eastings because they increase

in value eastwards.
- they are numbered from West to East or left to right.
- they run up and down the map.
 The horizntal lines known as nothings because they increase in
- The four figure grid reference for the hut in 1042
value northwards.
- thet are numbered from or South to North bottom to top.
 SIX FIGURE GRID REFERENCE SYSTEM
- they run across the mapthe map from left to right.
- Gives a more accurate location of an abject on a map and pin points a
 When giving a grid reference, easting should be given first and
100²m within a grid square.
northings second.
- The system uses six (6) figures; three for eastings and the other three
for northings
- e.g. 10_ 42_
 FOUR FIGURE GRID REFERENCE SYSTEM
- Each grid square is 20mm x 20mm, making it divisible into ten small
- This system uses for figures/ digits, that is, the first two for eastings
portions, 2mm each.
and the last two for northings.
- These units give the third figure for eastings and also the third for
- To come up with the four figure grid reference, first identify the
northings.
easting line (vertical line to the west/left of a point) and then the
- This completes the gap e.g. 105 425 starting with eastings then
northing, (horizontal line to the south or bottom of a point).
northings.
 NB: to locate objects on a map, make use of the ABUS
technique– along the bottom up the side.
- The bottom left corner intersection in a grid is used to give reference
to the whole grid

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  TASK – give the four and six figure grid references for the and each 100m segment can be divided into 10 segments 10m
features below each and each 10 m segment into segments 1m

- So as you are moving from the main easting into the grid box
to a feature you will have written your small easting as well as
the main easting and the fourth figure is obtained by seeing
how many hundreds of meters the feature lies from the main
easting, the fifth is how many tenths of units and the 6th how
many units.

- Here the usual result can be 314700.

 THIRTEEN (13) FIGURE GRID REFERENCE SYSTEM - The last two zeroes are there because it's not possible to
measure the distance on a normal 1:50000 topographical map.
- We used to do 4 figure grid reference as well as 6 figure grid
reference and I hope you are well versed with how those two  Northings,
are done. - They start with a double digit alongside that we used to
- Now 13 figure grid reference is when we have 6 figures for identify as the normal northing.
eastings and 7 figures for northings. - Copy the four numbers and add three zeroes at the end and you
will have 13 figure grid reference.
 Eastings:
- If you look closely at the eastings on your topographical map - Find a map and try that.
you will notice that there is a small figure near what we used - I am aware my explanation so far may be inadequate.
to take as the normal easting - However, I am willing to entertain your further questions until
- -e.g a small 3 besides say easting 14 you are satisfied
- Now include that small 3 then write down the normal easting
and you will have your first 3 figures for the eastings.
- the last 3 figures are computed in the similar way we computed
the former 6 figure grid reference

- while we are aware that our grid box has an equivalent

length of 1000m, and we can divide it into 10 segments 100m

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 DIRECTION AND THE COMPASS

- Direction is used to give the position of a feature from another.

- Direction of B form A is
- Cardinal points are shown on a four directional compass – N,
_______
S, E & W
-
- Ordinal points are shown on a eight directional compass – N,
S, E, W + NE, SE, SW, NW.
- A Sixteen directional compass is also used for more accurate
- The direction of a feature on a map is given with reference to
locations.
the north of the point where the direction is taken or given.
- A compass should be drawn or placed at the point at which the
direction is being taken from, that is, the observer’s point.
- The direction of B form A is South East.

BEARING

- This is an angular position of a place from another.

- It is measured in a clockwise direction from the observer’s
point.
- The angle is expressed in degrees using a protractor.

 Steps When Measuring Bearing

- Identify the points in question and find the observer’s position,
that is, where the bearing is being taken from.
- Draw a compass passing through the centre of the observer’s
position.
- Join the two points with a straight line to determine the angle.

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- Use a protractor to measure the angle in a clockwise direction - e.g. 1:50 000
stating from the true north or12 noon position and read the __1__
bearing in degrees. 50 000

the bearing of A  Linear Scale

from B is 295º - Shows scale by way of a line divided into proportions to the
ground distance.
- This is a more accurate measure of distances on a map.

MAP SCALES MEASURING DISTANCE ON A MAP

- This is the ratio of a distance on a map to the corresponding  Straight Line Distance
distance on the ground. - Usually disregards physical features such as roads, railway
- Topographical maps using a scale of 1:50 000 means that 1cm lines and rivers.
on the map represent 50 000cm on the actual ground or 2cm on - Include aerodrome landing areas, pipelines and power lines.
the map represent 1km on the ground.
 Curved or Winding Distance
- Usually measured along physical routes.
Types of Map Scales - e.g. roads, railways, dam walls and rivers.
 Simple Statement
- Expresses scale in words  Measuring a Straight Distance
- e.g. 2cm represents 1km. - Identify the two points along which the distance is to be
measured.
 Representative Fraction (RF) or Ratio Scale - Mark the two points on a straight edged paper; say, A & B.
- Expresses scale as a ratio or fraction

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- Place the straight edge on the linear scale at the base of the  In the examination, make use of the straight edge from the
map. question paper.
- Starting at the 0km mark on the scale, measure the distance in
kilometres.
- To the left of the 0km mark, are divisions in metres (fraction of CALCULATING AREA ON MAPS
a kilometre).
- Lay the remainder to measure the distance in metres.
- Area is obtained using the grid square and graph paper
methods.
 Measuring a Curved or Winding Distance
- Identify the two points along which the distance is to be
 Regular Shapes
measured.
- On a 1:50 000 map, 2cm represent 1km.
- Divide the distance to be measured, with a faint pencil marks,
- Each grid square is 1km².
into near straight segments.
- The area of a mapped region is obtained by adding up all the
- Mark A to the left end of the line and B on the right end of the
grid squares and multiplying the total by 1km².
line.
- Mark the straight segments on the route onto the straight edged
 Irregular Shapes (cultivated land, dam or lake)
paper from start (A) to finish (B).
- Consider the space of the irregular shape occupying full
- Transfer the straight paper to the linear scale and read off the
squares and that occupying part of a grid square
distance in kilometres and metres.
- Add the number of full squares to the number obtained from
the half squares.
- For half squares, count them together and divide the total by
two
- To get the area, multiply the total number of squares by 1km².

 The Graph Paper Method

- Used to measure the area of an irregular features whose shape
occupies less than a full grid square
- Examples include cultivated land, dam and lake
- Divide the grid square into smaller grids such as that of a graph
paper
- Count the full and half squares; add to come up with the total

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- To get the area, multiply the total number of squares by 0.1
km² RELIEF FEATURES OR LANDFORMS AND
- 0.1 km² is the area of a single grid / box of a graph paper CONTOURS

E.G: ZIMSEC N/2013/1 – QN 1 – KASHAMBI MAP

- The height of land on maps is shown by contour lines, spot
-
heights and trigonometrical stations/ beacons
- Spot heights are used to show the height of land at particular
spots/ points on the map.
- A spot height is black dots with a number besides it.
- A trigonometrical station is a mark shown on both the map and
the actual ground.
- It shows the highest point in an area
- trigonometrical stations are numbered
for identity
- They also have the altitude of the
particular place

- Contour lines are lines drawn on topographical maps to join

areas of the same height above sea level (altitude).
- They produce a pattern which enable them to show different
relief landforms features.

- The area of a Mabwematema Dam between Eastings 05 and 07

is ____km².
Total number of squares: 42
= 42 x 0.1 km²
= 4.2 km²

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 SLOPE FORMS

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 RELIEF FEATURES/ LANDFORMS IN CONTOURS

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 DRAINAGE FEATURES

 DETERMINING DIRECTION OF FLOW OF RIVERS - Where a river has a dam wall, the
direction of flow is obtained by looking
- Search for the river on the map
at the side where the river’s water is
- Study the pattern of the contour lines
blocked by the dam wall.
- The V-shape of the contours crossing
- The river flows in the direction where,
the river valley open in the direction of
↓ on the dam wall there is no water
flow of the river.
collected; the side with a garden rake sort
- the river is flowing North
of structure
- Rivers flow from highland to lowland - The river is flowing South
- Look at the contours cutting through the
river
- High values indicate high ground while
low values indicate low ground
- The river is flowing South-West

- tributaries of most rivers join the main river

at acute angles (less than 90º)
- This angle makes an arrow pointing in the
direction of flow of the river
- rivers never part ways, but join at a
confluence
- The main stream is flowing South East

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 Trellis - Sometimes known as rectangular drainage pattern.
- It is formed where streams join the main river at
 DRAINAGE PATTERNS
right angles.
- Drainage pattern is a term that refers to the way in which a
- Develops in areas of alternate hard and soft rocks.
river and its tributaries arrange themselves in the drainage
- The main river (consequent stream) follows the dip
basin / catchment area.
of the rocks down the slope after an initial uplift.
- The drainage pattern evolves over a long period of time and is
- The tributaries (subsequent streams) which develop
affected by such factors as the underlying rock, the slope of the
along the soft rock join the main stream at right
land, the existence or nonexistence of fault lines and tectonic
angles.
movements.
- Streams that flow against the dip of the rock strata
PATTERN DESCRIPTION are called obsequent streams.
Dendritic - The word dendritic comes from the Greek - In Zimbabwe this is found in the Chimanimani
‘dendron’ meaning tree. Mountains.
- The streams join one another in a shape that looks - Pattern occurs along fault lines and rectangular
like the branches of a tree. joints; in eroded fold mount areas due to head ward
- The tributaries join each other at acute angles. erosion by streams.
- It is commonly found in areas with a uniform rock Centripetal - Is found in areas where rivers drain towards a
structure resulting in uniform erosion. central inland lake, swamp or depression.
- It is also found in areas which have gentle slopes. - It is in essence an inland drainage system e.g. as in
Radial - It is also known as centrifugal and divergent the case of the Dead Sea.
drainage. - It is common in inland depressions such as faulted
- Formed where streams drain from a central intermountain (between mountains) basins, calderas
highland in all directions. as well as in arid and semi-arid areas.
- It is common in areas with conical hills and/or parallel - Rivers and tributaries flow downhill together in a
domes such as volcanic cones. more or less parallel pattern (side-by-side).
- Streams radiating from the central highland. - It is the simplest and most basic drainage pattern.
- In Zimbabwe it is found in areas that have granite - It occurs on newly uplifted land or land that is
domes still covered by soil. gently sloping allowing rivers and tributaries to flow
in parallel channels.
- Examples include the Zambezi and its tributaries.

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 - The two figures should be both in metres before the
calculations are done.
 DRAINAGE DENSITY
- The gradient should be expressed with an enumerator as one
(1) after reducing the values during the calculations.
- An examination question may ask: identity a grid square in
which drainage density is highest.
 * * Worked Example * * *
- Drainage density is the total length of all streams in a drainage
basin divided the total area of the drainage basin.
 GIVEN THAT: Points A and B have got a VI of 40 metres and
- It is a measure of how well or poor an area is drained by rivers.
an HE of 1,2 km
- On a map, drainage density is determined by the number of
 Calculate the gradient
stream lines in a grid square.
- The higher the number of streams, the higher/ greater the
Gradient = Vertical Interval (VI)
drainage density.
Horizontal Equivalent (HE)
- It is higher in areas with impermeable rocks such as granite;
= 40m
lower in areas with permeable rocks such as chalk and
1,2 km
limestone.
= 40
CALCULATING GRADIENT 1200

= 1
- It is the steepness of a slope. 30
- It is expressed as a ratio of the vertical rise of land to the
horizontal = 1:30 or 1 in 30
- Formula:

Gradient = Vertical Interval (VI)

- The above gradient of 1 in 30 means that for every 30m
Horizontal Equivalent (HE)
horizontally, the ground rises of falls vertically by one metre.

- VI is the vertical difference in height (altitude) shown on

contour lines, trigonometrical station and spot heights.
- HE is the distance between the same two points.

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 Dispersed and  Settlements can also be dispersed
RURAL SETTLEMENT PATTERNS Haphazard Settlement especially in areas with fewer resources
that cannot support dense populations as
people try to give each other space to
Pattern Description operate for example extensive farmers.
Linear Pattern  Consists of a line of huts or houses  This is also common pattern in commercial
following a road, river, or cultivated farming, communal areas with ragged
areas/fields. terrain and areas with poor soils.
 Such patterns can also develop along a  Haphazard settlement patterns can be
watershed or a mountain range. dispersed or compact but they usually do
 It should be pointed out that Zimbabwe’s not conform to a recognizable shape
roads, especially the major roads, are found showing a lack of planning.
on watersheds. Rectangular/ Grid Iron  A more planned settlement pattern
Radial Pattern  This pattern usually develops at road  Found in growth points and urban areas
junctions or nodal points.
 They radiate out from a central point like
the spokes of a bicycle wheel going
outwards in all directions.
 These nodal points include rural service
centers for example District Council
Offices or Growth Points
Circular pattern  Is a common pattern on desert nomadic
camps, around dwalas, volcanic hills or
wells and watering holes in semi-arid
areas.
 Some tribes e.g. The Kayapo in the
Amazon Basin live in circular villages for
cultural reasons.
 They live in the outer houses and the
central house is a meeting place.

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REPRESENTING HUMAN ACTIVITY ON MAPS
COMPILED BY:
MR .G. BOWORA a.k.a #FIRE-GIVIE”
 Farming: dip tanks indicate livestock keeping, areas
under cultivation, presence of small dams on farms or Great acknowledgements to the ZIMSEC website, Geography
orchards or plantations. Textbooks, the internet and fellow geographers for the rich materials.
 Mining: prospecting trenches, mine dumps, quarries
and mine names. . . . meaningful and productive corrections, alterations and
 Transport: roads of varies types e.g. wide tarred, tracks, editions acceptable . . .
railway lines, aerodromes. Wise Quote:
 Settlement: buildings, huts, built up area, staff quarters
and presence of service centres such as administration
offices, police station, and post office.
 Settlement patterns: scattered/ dispersed, linear,
nucleated, clustered, haphazard, rectangular/ grid-iron.
 Location of settlements and their reasons.
 Land use zones: recreation, administration, industry,
cultivation, forestry.
 Population densities: factors influencing such as
provision of social services: schools and hospitals / LET US PRAY:
clinics Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
 The best site to locate a school considering population As it was in the beginning,
densities Is now and ever shall be, World without end.
 The influence of relief on population densities. AMEN!!!
 Expansion of settlements: factors encouraging and
impeding. . . . best wishes to you all in your final examinations . . .
 Location of services and their reasons.
. . . The Most High God light our way and help us pull through . . .

-------------------------------{FIN ENDE COHEL}---------------------------------------

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