Introduction to Maps

A collection of vocabulary flashcards to aid in understanding key concepts related to maps and geographical patterns.

Reference Maps

Maps designed for general information about places, such as political, physical, or road maps.

Political Maps

Reference maps that show and label human-created boundaries like countries, states, cities, and capitals.

Physical Maps

Maps that display natural features, including mountains, rivers, and deserts.

Choropleth Maps

Thematic maps that use different colors or shades to show spatial data and distributions.

Dot Distribution Maps

Maps that display specific locations of phenomena using dots or symbols to represent frequency.

Graduated Symbol Maps

Maps that use varying symbol sizes to indicate the quantity of a phenomenon.

Isoline Maps

Maps that use lines connecting points of equal value to depict variations across space.

Cartogram

A map in which the sizes of areas are distorted based on a specific statistic, like population.

Scale

The ratio between the size of things in reality and the size represented on a map.

Absolute Location

The precise location of a place defined by a coordinate system, such as latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

The location of a place in relation to other locations, often changing over time.

Elevation

Distance above sea level, impacting climate, weather, and agriculture.

Distribution Patterns

Geographical arrangements of phenomena, including clustered, linear, dispersed, and circular patterns.

Map Projection

The method of representing the curved surface of the earth on a flat map, which can cause distortion.

Mercator Projection

A map projection that preserves angles and directions but distorts area, particularly near the poles.

Robinson Projection

A map projection that presents a more realistic depiction of area and shape with minimal distortion.