Download Summary on Chapter No.2 MAPS AND GLOBES - E

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Summary on Chapter No.2
MAPS AND GLOBES
A map is a visual representation of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities,
roads etc. In geography maps is one of the most important tools researchers, cartographers,
students and others can use to examine the entire earth or a specific part of it. Maps are a way
of showing a part of the earth’s surface on a flat piece of paper. Maps can be of general
reference and show landforms, political boundaries, water, the location of cities, or in case of
thematic maps, show different but very specific topics such as the average rainfall distribution
for an area etc. A map includes a compass rose that shows direction. The top point is called
north and the point at bottom is south, the side points are called the east and the west.
The objects on a map are represented using symbols. To understand the symbols on maps you
need key. Maps have keys. Maps use key to explain the meaning of each of the symbol used.
Maps are scaled down so that they fit on paper. Locations of the earth’s surface are identified
by using a grid system of latitude and longitude. Latitude gives a north and south direction and
longitude gives an east and west direction. There are different types of maps that attempt to
represent specific things. Such as Political Maps, Physical Maps, Topographic Maps, Economic
or Resource Maps, Road Maps, Thematic Maps, Other Maps that include navigational maps,
such as aeronautical and nautical charts, railroad network maps etc.
A map projection is a way to represent the curved surface of the earth on a flat surface of a
map. A good globe can provide the most accurate representation of the earth. However, a
globe isn’t practical for many of the functions for which we require maps. The process of
transferring information from the earth to a map causes every projection to distort at least one
aspect of the real world- shape, area, distance or direction.
The word globe comes from the Latin word globus, meaning round mass or sphere. A globe is a
three dimensional scale model of the earth. If you look at globe you can truly see the way the
world looks in all of its complexity. All the countries are shown in true size relative to each
other. If you look at a flat map of the world, the paths followed by air planes and ships are not
straight lines. They look like curves; this is because the world is round, not flat. A globe can spin
around and around just as the earth itself spins around and around. The top of the axis is the
North Pole and the bottom is the South Pole.
Maps are flat, more portable than globes. Maps can be produced at any scale desired, the
larger the scale the less the effect of distortion. Maps can provide detail information and
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provide topographical data in much more detail than globe. Maps can be modified as per the
physical or political situation changes. Fundamentally, copying a spherical reality onto a flat
surface is impossible without some distortion, which means all maps have some problems
either with size or distance. A globe is the only representation of the earth that does not distort
either the shape or the size of large features. The tilt and rotation of the earth is clearly
apparent on a globe. It becomes easier to determine the different amount of daylight present
in various areas of the world. Tilting and revolution of the earth and consequent seasonal
changes can also be understood easily when using globe. Globe gives more accurate earth’s
surface, shape of continents, and their relative position with no distortion. The biggest
disadvantage of the globe is that it represents the entire earth because of this, there will always
be small scale representation and only the largest objects can be depicted whereas the smaller
one cannot be shown.
One of the most basic uses of maps and globes is to help you find specific places, and tell us the
direction and indicates the positions of the land and water masses. Physical maps show natural
features such as mountains, rivers, oceans and islands. Cultural maps will include people made
features such as political boundaries, highways, towns, dams and bridges.
International Date Line is the place where each day begins. This line runs along the 180
meridian through the Pacific Ocean. It is exactly half way around the world from the prime
meridian. There are few places where the International Date Line zig-zags to allow the same
time to exist in certain regions. Maps and globes are an essential tool of geography.
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