Page 133 - SST Class 06
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Reading Maps
Since the sixteenth century, when the Flemish need it. If you were trying to find a certain street
map maker and geographer Mercator first pub- or building in your home town you would need a
lished a book of maps and called it an atlas, map that showed you all the smaller streets,
several efforts have been made to make accurate maybe even footpaths in and around town.
maps. Maps need to show direction, shape and If you were trekking across a mountain range you
areas correctly. To make it easier to find and might need a map that shows a bigger area of
pinpoint any spot on a map, imaginary lines of land and tells you the heights and steepness of
latitude and longitude are drawn forming a grid the mountains.
over the earth’s surface.
MAPS
WHAT IS A MAP? The origin of the term Map is from the Latin
A map is simply a drawing or picture of a land- word ‘mappo’ meaning a napkin or covercloth.
scape or location. Maps usually show the land- The map-makers, also called cartographers,
scape as it would be seen from above, looking decided to change the globe into a flat map. It
directly down. was not easy and simple. Imagine, cutting a
As well as showing the landscape of an area, globe in half and try to flatten the two hemi-
maps will often show other features such as spheres. They would be stretched in some places
roads, rivers, buildings, trees and lakes. and squashed in others.
A map can allow you to accurately plan a jour- Actually, it is not possible to make a flat map of
ney, giving a good idea of landmarks and fea- the round earth without some directions of area,
tures you will pass along the route as well as how distance and direction. Although less accurate
far you will be travelling. than a globe, the map is definitely more usefull.
Understanding Your Map Needs
DO YOU KNOW?
There are many different types of maps. The type
‘Atlas’ is the name of a god in Greek mythology who is
of map you would choose depends on why you
believed to support the earth on his shoulders. A book
where all maps are put together is called an atlas.
Advantages of Maps
Maps are the most important and indispensable
tool for geographers to use. They help people
understand and explore “relationships” on our
planet. A map shows a representation of various
phenomenon over all the earth or of a specific
area of the land, in a visual graphic format. The
earliest maps were drawn on rock surfaces, clay
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