What Are Maps?
What Are Maps? Maps are two-dimensional (flat) representations of three-dimensional spaces. People have been making maps for over 4,000 years, and they've come a long way. We used to rely on explorers to visit faraway places before a map could be made. We still have explorers that travel the Earth (and beyond) to discover and map new places, but now we can also make and update maps with information sent from satellites in space.
All maps have five basic elements to help you understand them (numbers match image below):
All maps have five basic elements to help you understand them (numbers match image below):
- A title, to tell you the "who," "where," and "when" about the map
- Orientation (north, south, east, or west)
- Scale to determine distance
- A legend that explains the shapes, colors, and symbols used
- A grid or coordinates that help show where the map fits into a larger global area