1.1 Introducing Maps

Cartography

The study and practice of making maps.

Political Map

Maps that show features created by governments, such as national boundaries and capital cities.

Topographical Map

Detailed maps that show both physical and political features using contour lines.

Physical Map

Maps that display the physical characteristics of land and water, including mountains and rivers.

Road Map

Maps that provide detailed transportation routes, used primarily for navigation.

Satellite Map

Maps that provide accurate images of areas taken from a satellite.

Resource Map

Maps that present information on specific resources or statistical information, such as climate and population.

Mercator Projection

A cylindrical map projection used for navigation, which distorts size and shape of landmasses.

Robinson Projection

A map projection that presents a more visually appealing representation of the world, minimizing distortion.

Gall-Peters Projection

A map projection emphasizing area representation, showing countries in true size relative to each other.

Distortion

The alteration of the true shape, size, or position of features on a map.

Topographical Features

Features of the earth's surface, including elevation and landforms, represented on a topographic map.

Navigation

The process of determining a route or course for travel.

Projections

Methods used to represent the three-dimensional surface of the Earth on a two-dimensional plane.

Contour Lines

Lines on a map that connect points of equal elevation.

Equatorial Rainforest

A climate classification characterized by very high rainfall and the presence of dense forests.

Tropical Rainforest

A forest found in tropical regions that receives high amounts of rainfall throughout the year.

Desert Climate

A climate characterized by very low rainfall, leading to dry conditions and sparse vegetation.

Climate Classification

The categorization of climatic regions based on temperature and precipitation patterns.