Class 6 Geography Chapter 4 Notes - Maps

• A globe can be useful when we want to study the Earth as a whole.
• A map is a representation or a drawing of the Earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.
• When many maps are put together we, get an Atlas.
• Physical maps show natural features of the Earth.
• Political maps show different boundaries of different countries and states.
• Thematic maps focus on specific information.

There are three components of maps—distance, direction and symbol.

Distance

• The scale is the ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map.
• If you know the scale, you will be able to calculate the distance between any two places on a map.
• When large areas like continents or countries are to be shown on paper, then we use a small scale map.
• When a small area like your village or town is to be shown on paper, then we use a large scale map.
• Direction: There are four major directions, North, South, East and West. They are called cardinal points.
• We can find out the direction of a place with the help of a magnetic compass.

Symbols

• The conventional symbols give a lot of information in a limited space.
• The blue colour is used for showing water bodies, brown for mountains, yellow for plateau and green is used for plains.

Sketch

• A sketch is a drawing mainly based on memory and spot observation and not to scale.
• A rough drawing is drawn without scale is called a sketch map.

Plan

• A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale.
• There are certain things which we may sometimes want to know, for example, the length and breadth of a room.

A map is a representation or a drawing of the earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.

Maps are of different types—physical maps, political maps and thematic maps.

The three components of maps are distance, direction and symbol.

A small scale map is used to show large areas like continents or countries on a paper.
A large scale map is used to show a small area like a village or town on a paper.

There are four major directions—North, South, East and West, known as cardinal points.

• There are four intermediate directions—north-east (NE), south-east (SE), south-west (SW) and north-west (NW).
• Symbols are used to show features like buildings, roads, bridges, etc. on the map. By using symbols we make the map very informative.
• Maps have a universal language. There is an international agreement regarding the use of these symbols. These are called conventional symbols.
• A sketch map is a rough drawing without scale.
• A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale.

Map: It is a representation or a drawing of the earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.
Scale: It is the ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map.
Cardinal points: The four directions—North, South, East and West—are called cardinal points.
Symbols: To represent buildings, roads, bridges, etc. on the map we use symbols. These symbols are of universal significance.
Sketch: A sketch is a drawing mainly based on memory and spot observation and not to scale.
Plan: A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale.