Directorate: Curriculum FET

TELEMATICS 2015

GEOGRAPHY

Grade 11
GEOGRAPHICAL MAPWORK SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

1 CONTOURS AND SLOPES

 Contour lines join places with the same height above sea level.
 Contours far apart show a gentle slope.
 Contours close together show a steep slope

1.1 Concave slope

1.2 Convex slope

1.3 Terraced slope 1

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2 MAP REFERENCE

3 LOCATION IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND SECONDS

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4 INTERVISIBILITY

5 DIRECTION OF RIVER FLOW

The following methods can be employed in determining the direction of river flow.

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READ AND INTERPRETATION OF MAPS AND ORTOPHOTOS
The goal of this guide is to empower you with regard to the answer of interpretation questions in
mapwork. Remember that there is a large amount of information on the topographical- and ortophoto
map. To answer these questions successfully, you must know what to look at to get to the answer.
Most of these questions come from previous exam question papers. Other questions have also been
included. Remember that this is not a memorandum which has been given with the questions, but an
attempt to show what you should look at to get to the answers. It is important to take note that
ALL content, modules and skills can be assessed in the mapwork paper. Use this guide to study and
prepare yourself for the mapwork question paper (Paper 2).

CLIMATOLOGY

1 Does the area receive seasonal rainfall or rainfall throughout the year?
Seasonal: Non-perennial rivers/ dams/ cultivated lands near rivers/ irrigation/ furrows
2 Which slope is the warmest?
The northward-facing slope – identify the northward-facing slope
3 In which direction will an airplane take off and land?
(Remember that airplanes take off and land against the wind.)

GEOMORPHOLOGY

1 Physical aspects influencing the construction of railways and roads.

Mountains/ steep slopes/ marshes/ rivers/
2 In which direction does the river flow?
-To the sea
-Always from high to low
-Contours bend upstream
-Dam wall on downstream side
-Tributaries join at acute angles
3 Identify the landforms regarding structural landscapes:
-Horizontal layers: Mesas/ buttes/ conical hills
-Inclined layers: dip and escarp slopes
-Massive igneous rocks: dome-shaped landforms
4 In which direction do the layers dip?
Layers always dip in the direction of the GRADUAL slope

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SUSTAINABILITY

1 Evidence of nature conservation

Nature reserve/ hiking trail/ fire break/ game reserve
2 Evidence of conservational farming.
Anti-erosion walls/ camps/ rows of trees to reduce wind/ contour ploughing
3 Are there sources of air pollution in the area??
-Air pollution: Industries
-Noise pollution: Airport
-Water pollution: Factories / camping sites/ Power station near river

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

(a) PRIMARY ACTIVITIES (FARMING / MINING)

1 Commercial or subsistence farming?
Commercial: Good infrastructure/ irrigation/ large farms/ farm names/ cellar/ dipping tank/
experimental farm/ estate/ sugar mill/ service rail/ abbatoir/ dairy
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Subsistence: Few roads/ footpaths/ no power lines/ small patches of cultivated land
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2 Describe factors that advantage/disadvantage farming activities
Advantage: Rivers/ dams/ flat land/ power lines/ railway lines
Disadvantage: Steep slopes/ water scarce/ marshes

3 Identify mining activities

Excavations/ mine dump/ conveyer belt/ terraces/ names of mines/ old mines/ subsiding
ground

4 Identifying of fishing activities

Fishing harbours/ fishermen’s houses/ factories near coast

5 Identifying of forestry
Trees/ woodlands/ saw mill/ lookout towers/ fire break/ state forest

(b) SECONDARY ACTIVITIES ( INDUSTRIES)

1 Describe the factors that influenced the location of the industries

Flat surface/ raw material/ Transport(name the types)/ power (power station, power lines, coal
mines)/ water/ labour(residential areas)/ Market/ outskirts/

2 Heavy or light industries?

Heavy: Far from CBD/ railway transport/ Raw material-mining/ large spaces/
Light: close to CBD / road transport/ raw material - farming

(c) TERTIARY ACTIVITIES (SERVICES)

1 Tourist attractions, holiday resorts, camping sites

Close to beaches/ close to road railway/ wine tasting/ historical buildings/ monuments/
museums

2 Types of services found

Electricity supply/ telephone/ medical/ pot office/ educationl(school/ college/ university)
transport (roads airport railway)/ police services etc. (buildings on map)

3 Recreation facilities?
Golf course/ athletics/ rifle range/ racing track/ etc

4 Factors that determined the location of the airport

Flat area/ far from built-up area for safety/ noise/ roads/

5 Does the railway line and the road follow the same routs? Why not?
The same? NB influence of topography
Road: through mountain pass . Railway around mountain (between Paarl and Worcester)

6 For what is the dam on the map used? Give reasons

Drinking water: Water purification works
Irrigation: cannels and furrows
Recreation: Yacht club, Hotels at dam, camping site, caravan park, slipway, etc.

SETTLEMENT

1 Why is the settlement located there?

Flat area/ roads/ river/ mountain/ sea/ etc

2 Is it an urban or a rural settlement?

Rural: Primary activities
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Urban: Secondary and Tertiary activities

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  Steep/gradual: Where?
RELIEF  Height: Look at contours, spot heights, trig stations,
(Brown) bench marks, highest, lowest part of map

 DAMS: Few or many

 Dams used for? –Irrigation(Canals & furrows)
-Drinking water(Filtering plant)
-Recreation(Yacht club, hotel
DRAINAGE etc
(Blue)  Rivers: Perennial or non-perennial?
 What does it tell us about the Climate?
 Ocean / lake
 Relationship between BROWN & BLUE

 Types of roads Do they follow the same route

INFRASTRUCTURE  Types of railways Why / why not
(Red & Black)  Relationship with BROWN & BLUE
MENTAL IMAGE
OF
 Where? How many?
THE MAP  Shape of settlement: Linier, Stellar, Round?
(RDISE) SETTLEMENTS  Site of settlement
(Grey & Black)  Street patterns, Land use zones

AGRICULTURE & OTHER PRIMARY

FORESTRY (GREEN)  Mining
 Type of farming  Fishing
 Where
 Relationship of GREEN SECONDARY
ECONOMIC with BROWN, BLUE,  Heavy or light
ACTIVITIES RED, GREY  Localisation
 Is there GREEN on steep
slopes? TERTIARY
 Rows of trees-purpose?  Water supply
 Woodlands  Electricity supply
 Conservation?  Other
CALCULATIONS
1. DISTANCE

FORMULA: Distance = Map distance x Scale

100 000

Calculate the length of the national road from A to B.

4,8cm B
A
STEP 1 Distance = 4,8cm
Measure distance on map
in cm
Distance = Map distance x Scale
STEP 2
100 000
Place in Formula
= 4,8 x 50 000
100 000
= 4,8
2

STEP 3 = 2,4 km
Answer in km

2. AREA

FORMULA: AREA = Length x Breadth

Calculate the area of Block X.

3cm X

5cm

STEP 1 Length = 5 cm x 50 000

Calculate length of block 100 000
in cm
= 2,5 km

STEP 2
Breadth = 3 cm x 50 000
Calculate breadth of block
100 000
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in cm
= 1,5 km
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 STEP 3 Area = lxb
Place in Formula = 2,5 x 1,5

= 3,75 km²
STEP 4
Answer in km²

3. GRADIENT

FORMULA: Gradient = VI (Difference in height)

HE (Horizontal distance)

Calculate the gradient from C to D.

220m 4,8cm 460m

C D
STEP 1 460 – 340 = 120m
Calculate difference in height

Distance = Map distance x Scale

STEP 2
100 000
Calculate distance
= 4,8 x 50 000
100 000
= 2,4 km

STEP 2 = 2 400m
Convert to METERS

Gradient = Difference in height (VI)

STEP 3
Distance (HE)
Place in formula and
SIMPLIFY
= 120m
2 400m
= 1
STEP 4 20
Answer as a ratio = 1:20

4. MAGNETIC DECLINATION AND MAGNETIC BEARING

Magnetic declination is the difference between true North and magnetic North (on compas).
Mag N True N
NB The following when you work with Magnetic Declination
1. What is the mean mag. declination (in degrees & minutes?
W E 2. In which direction is the magnetic declination?
e a 3. In which year is the magnetic declination given?
4. What is the mean annual change?
s s
5. In what direction is the average yearly change?
t t 6. For what year must the mag. declination be calculated?
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South
Mean magnetic declination 23° 53’ West of true north (Julie 2002).
Mean annual change 6’ Westwards.

Calculate magnetic declination for 2009.

2009 – 2002
STEP 1
= 7 years
Calculate difference in years

STEP 2 6’ x 7 years
Calculate total change = 42’ West

STEP 3 23° 53’ + STEP 3 NB: FOR SOUTH AFRICA

Add or subtract from 42’ If the change is towards the WEST, it
magnetic declination 23° 95’ is ADDED.
If the change is towards the EAST it, is
SUBTRACTED
STEP 4
Remember: Minutes cannot = 24° 35’ West
be more than 60 !
MAGNETIC BEARING
Magnetic bearing is calculated
5 VERTICAL EXAGGERATION by simply adding the bearing

FORMULA: V E = VERTICALE SCALE

HORIZONTAL SCALE

Calculate the vertical exaggeration of the following

4mm = 20m
STEP 1 4mm = 20 000mm (same units)
Convert VS to 4 : 20 000
ratio scale 1 : 5 000

STEP 2 VV = VERTICAL SCALE

Place in HORIZONTAL SCALE
formula
= 1 ÷ 1
5 000 50 000
= 1 X 50 000
5 000 1
= 10 Times
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