GEO 125

Physical Geography

Map Essentials

Title

• Geographic location
• Content of the map

Date

• Timeliness of the map
• Historic value of the map as a document

Cartographer

• Person or organization responsible for designing and producing the map
• Indication of any potential bias

Legend

• Explains the symbols used on the map
• Indicates the meaning of color, shades, and other devices that used to differentiate among spatial objects

Scale

• Shows the ratio between the distance shown on the mapto the same distance on the earth's surface
• Types of map scales (verbal, graphic, and the representative fraction
• Large versus small scale maps

Map projection

• Indicates how the map may be distorted
• Is the projection used the correct one given the function of the map

Orientation

• Used to establish compass bearings between points
• North given as north being at the top of the map, but this is not always the case
• True north (also known as grid north) versus magnetic north

Grid or land survey used to locate different points on the map

These map essentials will normally be found on all stand alone maps, such as reference maps or maps that are considered to be legal documents. However, in some instances not all of the above would need to be included in the maps marginal information

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