Chapter 01 : The Concept Of Map

Meaning of a map

A map is a drawing that represents the information found on the earth's surface by using a specific scale. Maps can be drawn on a paper, a piece of cloth, digital, or any flat area. The geographical information that can be represented on a map includes mountains, valleys, rivers, roads, buildings, and other important information. Maps help us to understand places and how to access them.

1. Why do we need maps?

2. Explain the difference between a picture and a map.

Types of maps

Different criteria are used to identify the types of maps. One of the criteria is the purpose of the map. By using this criterion, there are two types of maps namely; general maps and thematic maps.

General maps

These are maps that provide general information about a certain area. These maps do not present just one piece of information but offer various details about the area. For example: they can include information about roads, rivers, administrative boundaries, settlements, mountains, and vegetation. These maps help the user to understand the basic information about a place, the relationship between different features presented on the map, and to identify directions on the earth's surface. Therefore, general maps include: topographical maps, political maps. and road and railway maps.

Topographical maps

These maps represent the layout of natural and man-made features on the earth's surface. Also. topographical map use contour line to show the terrain of an area. Example of natural features include: ocean, lakes, rivers, plains, valleys, mountains, and vegetation. Example of man-made features include buildings, and roads. as shown in Figure 1. These maps are important in planning for construction, tourism, farming, industries, fishing, and business activities.

Political maps

These maps provide information about the international, regional, district and other local boundaries. They also show important areas such as government buildings, capital cities, and towns, as shown in Figure 2. Political maps are helpful for researchers, learners, and visitors who need to understand the administrative boundaries of a certain area.

Political maps change over time. Several factors can cause changes in a political map. These include wars, boundaries conflicts between countries, the nationalism, political agreements, and a boundary changes within a country. Because of these factors, political maps are updated to show the current national boundaries or other specific

Road and railway maps

These maps provide important information about road and railway networks, such as highways and street roads, and important signs or symbols of a certain area as shown in Figure 3. They also show the distance between different locations and often provide information about petrol stations, restaurants, and hotels. Road and railway maps are important for drivers and travellers.

Exercise 2

1. What type of map will you use to reach a region you have never been to?

2. Why do political maps change over time?

3. If you want to climb a mountain, what type of map would you use to understand the elevation of that mountain?

Thematic maps

These maps represent specific and unique themes or information. Thematic maps can vary depending on the theme being presented. For example. thematic maps can represent types of soils, vegetation, crops, human populations. weather, and urban planning.

Population map

This map represents the density or distribution of people in a certain area. Population maps help us see where areas are crowded or not crowded. They are useful for people who make decisions about where to put important things like schools, hospitals, markets, and

Weather maps

These maps represent the distribution of weather in a certain area. They illustrate elements of weather such as temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, and how they differ from one place to another. These maps are important for farming, business, tourism, and transportation activities. Figure 5 shows rainfall distribution in Iringa region.

They illustrate elements of weather such as temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, and how they differ from one place to another. These maps are important for farming, business, tourism, and transportation activities. Figure 5 shows rainfall distribution in Iringa region.

Urban planning maps

These maps show the planning of towns, cities and villages for settlement and social services. For example the placement of houses, shops, schools, hospitals. and roads as shown in Figure 6. These maps are mostly used by land surveyors and urban planning officers .

Exercise 03

1. Why thematic maps can greatly vary even if they show the same area?

2. If there is a fire emergency in your neighborhood, what type of map would you use to direct the firefighters to the area?

3. Carefully observe the following table, then suggest an appropriate map that may be used by the following people.

1. Identify the type of maps in A, B, C, and D as presented in Figure 7.

2. Identify thematic maps and general maps shown in Figure 7.

Essential elements of a map

The essential elements of a map are the basic parts that help in the use of a specific map. These elements give the map its meaning and make it accurate. They help to make the map easier to understand and present information about the place correctly. Here are the essential elements that should be included on a map.

(a) Frame: a border or outer line surrounding the map. The map frame helps to clearly define the map's boundaries and separates it from other information on the page. It shows where the map begins and ends;

(b) Title: helps to introduce a map to the users by identifies what a map is about or the geographical information or features it represents. For example, if the map shows roads in Tanzania, the title of the map might be 'Tanzania's roads map;

(c) North Direction: it indicates the direction on the map. It is usually represented by a North arrow. This element helps the reader to identify other directions such as South, East, and West. Knowing directions on a map helps you to understand where things are located; O

(d) Key: it explains the signs and symbols used on a map. For example, a symbol of a tree might represent a forest, and a blue wavy line might represent a river;

(e) Scale: it shows the relationship between the distance on a map and the real distance on the ground. For example. one centimetre on the map might represent ten kilometres on the ground;

(f) Grid Lines: these are lines that divide a map into squares. They help to locate specific areas on the map. Each square has a n umber or letter to help you find things easily; and

(g) Source: it shows where the information presented on a map was obtained. The source can be a government organisation, a non-government organisation, or an individual. Showing the source of the map helps verify its accuracy and allows other users to refer to it in their work. Figure 8 shows the essentials of a map.

QUESTION

1.Explain the weaknesses you have identified in Figure 9.

2.Identify the essentials of a map that should be placed at points A, B, C and D, then explain the importance of each element you have identified.

3. Identify the type of maps represented by Figure 9

Characteristics of good maps

A good map should have the following characteristics:

(a) It should be easy to read and interpret;

(b) it should include all the essential elements of a map, such as scale, frame, source, key, grid lines, title, and North direction;

(c) it should represent the actual places, and distances, as well as place objects correctly;

(d) it should use clear colours and neat writing to help users understand it better;

(e) it should only show the information that is needed for specific purpose;

(f) it should use the same symbols, colours, and styles consistently across the map for easy understanding; and

(g) it should have the up to date information so that everything shown is correct.

Importance of maps

A map is like a guidebook for the world, helping us learning by explore, and understand the places around us. Therefore, a map is an important tool used by people in various contexts. The following are some key reasons for using maps:

(a) To find and learn about places, even if we have never been there before;

(b) to know distances from one place to another;

(c) to know the right direction to take to reach our destination, such as North, South, East. or West;

(d) to plan our travels by showing the best roads, shortcuts, and interesting places we might see along the way;

(e) to understand different features in our environment, such as mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests;

(f) to help during emergencies like fires and floods by guiding people;

(g) to learn about the weather in different places by showing rainfall distribution, vegetation cover, and human activities;

(h) to show where important resources in our country are found, such as rivers, lakes, forests, and minerals;

(i) to show where people live and how many people are in different areas; and

(j) to know administrative boundaries, such as international, regional, district, and village boundaries;

(k) to show tourist attractions such as Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, and wildlife reserves These help in attracting tourists to visit these places; and

(I) to understand the history of a place by showing how it has changed over time.

Exercise 02

1. How do maps assist in promoting tourism activities?

2. How can a farmer use a map?

Vocabulary

Compass : a tool used to show direction, with an arrow pointing North at all times

Consistency : maintaining the same symbols and colours that represent the same thing on a map

Landscape : the way the land looks

Man-made features : things built by people

Physical visit : going to see a place in person

Population density : how many people live in a certain area

Surveyor : a person who measures land to help decide where things like buildings and roads should be placed

Urban planning : how cities and towns are designed and arranged