Map Reading

What is a map?
A map is a drawing representing all or a part of the earth’s surface.

Attributes of a map

1. Title – shows us what the map is about.

2. Scale – is used to calculate the ground distance between places on a map. It shows map
users how many times smaller the map is when compared to the real area on the ground.
Scale shows the relationship between real life ground distance and distances on the map.
3. Key (Legend) and symbols – The key / legend explains the meaning of symbols used on
the map. Symbols show information and physical features on the ground.
4. Direction sign – Shows us where north is.

Difference between a map and a plan

 Maps provide general information about an area while plans give detailed and specific
information about area.
 Plans are drawn to a large scale to represent a small area while maps are drawn to a
small scale to represent a large area.

Difference between maps and aerial photographs

 Maps are drawings of the earth surface while aerial photographs are photos of earth
surface taken using a camera.
 Maps only show the information that the mapmaker wants to show while aerial
photographs show everything that is on the surface at the time the picture is taken.
 Maps use a key/legend and symbols to represent objects on the earth surface while in
an aerial photographs object appear as they are by the time the picture was taken.

Difference between maps and satellite images

 Maps are drawings of the earth surface while satellite images are images of the earth
surface taken by a satellite orbiting around the earth.
 Maps only show what the mapmaker wants to show but satellite images show
everything that is on the way of the camera when the picture was taken.
 The altitude and slope of the land can easy to be shown on a map but these are
difficult to show on satellite images.

Map Scale
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There are three types of scale

a) Statement scale – This type of scale is written in the form of a statement. For example,
one centimetre represents hundred kilometres.

How to use statement scale to calculate ground distance

Given a map scale 1centimeter represents 100 kilometres. Measured map distance
between the two places = 10cm. The calculated ground distance = 100km x 10cm
Answer = 100km.

b) Linear Scale – This type of scale is shown in the form of a line or a bar. E.g.

How to use linear scale to calculate ground distance

Measuring distance along a straight line

You take a piece of paper or a ruler; place it along the line that you are measuring. Mark
each of the distance and hold it along the linear scale.

Measuring distance along curved lines

Take a straight-edged piece of paper. Mark the starting point then move it until it touches
the shortest straight section of the curved line. Make a mark on the piece of paper and the
line that you are measuring. Continue doing this until the end of the line that you are
measuring. Place the marked piece of paper carefully against the linear scale to find the
exact distance.

c) Ratio Scale / Representative Fraction scale – This type of scale is written in ratio form
e.g. 1: 20 000. This means that 1centimeter on the map represents 20 000 centimetres on
the ground. Note that the units of the scale for the map distance and ground distance are

the same. It can also be in the form of a fraction e.g. ½0 000.

How to use ratio scale to calculate ground distance

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 Ratio: 1: 50 000
Map distance between two places = 10cm
Calculate the ground distance
Answer: 10cm * 50 000cm = 500 000cm
Now convert 500 000cm to kilometres
500 000 / 100 000 = 5 km.
The ground distance = 5 km.

Map Direction

We use an instrument known as the compass to find the direction of one place from another.

Cardinal Points

The main compass directions are north, south, east and west. Between the main directions are
intermediate points; north-east, south-east, south-west and north-west.

Giving direction

When holding a book upright, always note that the top of the book is where your north is. The
bottom is the south, the right side of the book is the east and the left side is west.

When giving direction always imagine that you are standing at the place mentioned immediately
after the word from.

Location Places using Latitude and longitude lines.

Latitude lines

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These are horizontal lines. All latitude lines begin at the line of equator. This is the zero degrees
(0º) line; it divides the earth into northern and southern hemisphere.

Other latitude lines are the:

i) Tropic of Capricorn - 23½ºS. This line passes in Botswana near Mahalapye.

ii) Tropic of cancer - 23½ºN.
iii) Arctic Circle – 66½º N
iv) Antarctic Circle – 66½º S

Lines of Longitude (meridians)

These are vertical lines. The zero degrees (0º) longitude line is known as the Greenwich meridian
or prime meridian. This line divides the earth into eastern and western hemispheres.

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How to locate using latitude and longitude lines

 Always start by giving the latitude. Then find the longitude.

Source: Exploring S/ studies bk1

The latitude of Gaborone in the above map is 24ºS

The longitude of Gaborone in the above map is 25 º E

Grid References

A grid reference is a network of uniformly spaced horizontal and vertical lines used to locate
places on a topographic map. The horizontal lines of a grid reference are called northings
because their numbers / values increase as one move northwards. The vertical ones are called
eastings because their values increase as one move eastwards.

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Locating Places using 4 figure grid reference

 Start with vertical lines (eastings).

 Find the horizontal line (northing)
 The position of any point will be described by the bottom left corner of the point that
you are locating or southwest corner of a square in which a particular point is found.