Know All About Maps

Geography

Know All About Maps

Reviewed by:

Aiswarya Ittianath

What is a Map?

A map is a symbolic representation that emphasizes relationships, such as objects, regions, or themes, between elements of a certain space.

Most maps are static, fixed on paper, or some other durable medium, while others are dynamic or collaborative.

The study and practice of creating representations of the Earth on a flat surface is cartography or map making, and one who makes maps is called a cartographer.

Road maps are perhaps today's most widely used maps and form a subset of navigational maps, including aeronautical and nautical maps, maps of the railway network, and maps of hiking and cycling. In terms of quantity, local surveys carried out by municipalities, utilities, tax assessors, emergency service providers, and other local agencies are likely to make up the largest number of map sheets drawn. Maps can also be used to depict contour lines indicating constant elevation, temperature, precipitation, etc. values.

World maps or large regions are mostly either 'political' or 'physical'. The main aim of the political map is to display territorial borders; the physical purpose is to show geographical characteristics, such as mountains, the form of soil, or the use of land, including infrastructures, such as roads, railroads, and buildings. With contour lines or shading, topographic maps suggest elevations and relief. Not just the physical surface, but features of the underlying rock, fault lines, and structures of the subsurface are shown by geological maps.

What is a Globe?

A spherical model of the Earth, of some other celestial body, or a celestial sphere is a globe. Globes serve similar purposes to some maps but do not distort the surface they depict except to scale it down, unlike maps. The model globe of the Earth is called the globe of the Earth. A celestial globe is called a model globe of the celestial sphere. A world displays details of its topic. Landmasses and water bodies are shown by a terrestrial globe. It could reveal nations and major cities and the network of lines of latitude and longitude. To show mountains and other large landforms, some have elevated relief. A celestial globe shows notable stars, and other prominent astronomical objects can also show positions. It will usually split the celestial sphere into constellations, too. The apparent locations of the stars in the sky are displayed by celestial globes.

Distinguish between Globe and Map

Globe	Map
Globe is the most accurate Earth approximation.	A map is a characterization of the Earth on a flat surface drawn to scale.
Globe provides us with a three-dimensional view of the Earth.	The map provides us with a three-dimensional view of the Earth.
Globe shows us the most important details of the World, such as the oceans, seas, and continents.	The map shows us the Earth's tiniest info. Also, small descriptions of a village or the relief features of different regions can be shown to us.
Since latitudes and longitudes are drawn as circles and semi-circles, the continents' shape and scale are not distorted.	Since latitudes and longitudes are drawn like straight lines, the shape and size of the continents are distorted.
It is hard to manage big globes.	Maps can be quickly folded and handled.

What is Atlas?

A set of maps is an atlas; it is usually a package of World maps or an area of the Earth.

Traditionally, atlases were bound into book form, but many atlases are in digital formats today. In addition to the presentation of geographic features and political borders, geopolitical, social, religious, and economic statistics are also included in many atlases. They also have data about the map and its positions.

Types of Atlas

A travel atlas is designed for easy use during travel and sometimes has spiral bindings so that it can be folded flat (such as the popular A-Z atlases of the Geographers' A-Z Map Company). It has maps with a broad zoom, so it is easy to check the maps. As a road map, a travel atlas can also be referred to.

A desk atlas is equivalent to a reference book. It can be in the form of a hardback or paperback.

Atlases of the other planets (and their satellites) are visible in the Solar System.

The Atlases of anatomy exist, mapping organs or other organisms of the human body.

Differentiate between Map Globe and Atlas?

Globe	Map	Atlas
Globe is referred to as a spherical model of Earth. It helps us to search out places on the Earth’s surface. It gives us information about the exact shape and size of the continents because it looks similar to our planet Earth.	A map is a two-dimensional piece of paper that is simple to fold and hold. The map provides us with details about points on the surface of the Earth. Clearly and visually, we can classify and locate continents as well as oceans. To locate positions, maps are primarily used by sailors, engineers, and soldiers. Many people have also used maps to find directions or to search for them.	Atlas provides us with a book with maps and charts of all continents and oceans. Atlas gives us a vivid picture of all the bodies of land and water in the world.

FAQs on Know All About Maps

1. Explain Map and types of Map.

Ans: A map is a two-dimensional piece of paper that is simple to fold and hold. The map provides us with details about points on the surface of the Earth. Two primary types of maps are accessible - political maps and physical maps. The form of the land is shown by physical maps - hills, lakes, trees, coast, and so on. Most maps have a compass rose that shows the north, south, east, and west directions. They also have a scale that is useful for distance estimation.

2. Explain live Google Earth.

Ans: From selected locations around the world, Google Earth will now play live video feeds. The functionality is available directly on various platforms that are funded by Google Earth. With the live video feed, viewers will be able to watch live events from various locations, the first being Alaska's Katmai National Park.