 Map – a picture showing the features of a specific area  People who make maps are called cartographers  What are maps used for?  to find our way  describe characteristics of a place

Compass rose- four principal directions

Map Scale -represents distance between points

Legend (Key) -tells what each symbol represents

Map Skills

 Physical Maps show the surface of the earth in great detail

 Topographic Maps are more detailed kinds of physical maps  Topography: surface shapes and features of the earth.  Elevation – the height of land above seawater  Contour lines – label the elevation of an area

Elevation Map

Contour Map

Resource Map-shows where resources are located

 Thematic map – shows how things are distributed

 Climatic map-Shows average weather or patterns of weather

 Political Map – shows the boundaries between areas defined by a government

 GIS - Geographic Information System -computer map that combines data from various sources

 GPS- global positioning system - satellites that orbit the earth and send information that tells us location.

Physical map

Climatic map

Political Map

Resource map

Thematic map

Contour Map

Elevation Map