Chapter: 01. Maps And Diagrams
Understanding Our World: Maps, Globes, and Diagrams
This chapter will help you explore different ways we can understand and show the Earth’s features. By the end of this journey, you will be able to:
Identify the differences between a map, sketch, plan, and globe. Recognize and understand maps based on their scale (large scale, small scale). Represent geographical features using diagrams. Getting Started: Visualizing Your World
Let’s start by thinking about how you would show someone the way.
Imagine you need to tell your mother how to get from your house to your friend’s house for a class project. How would you show her the route? You could draw a simple picture, perhaps using different colors and symbols for places like shopping centers, parks, hospitals, or bus stops along the way. This simple picture is a lot like some of the ways we represent the Earth!
There are many ways to show the Earth and its features, such as maps, globes, sketches, plans, and diagrams. We’ll learn about each of these in this study guide.
Mindmap: Introduction
MAPS
A map is a drawing of the whole Earth or a part of it, shown on a flat surface.
A map showing the continents and oceans of the world Maps are usually symbolic drawings on paper. They provide information about the Earth’s surface in a simple and visual way. A collection of different types of maps bound together in a book is called an atlas. Mindmap: Maps
GLOBES
A globe is a model that looks like the Earth’s actual shape, a sphere, with a map of the world printed on its surface.
A Globe It is usually attached to a stand, allowing it to be rotated. Pause and Think: Location Comparison
Try to find the United States and Japan on a globe and then on a world map. On a globe, they might seem quite close, but on a flat map, they appear very far apart, at opposite ends. Why do you think this happens? Think about how a sphere (globe) is different from a flat surface (map).
Mindmap: Globes
Differences Between Maps and Globes
Maps and globes are both useful, but they have key differences:FeatureMapsGlobesPortabilityEasy to carry.Difficult to carry around.Area ShownRepresent a part or the whole of the Earth.Show the whole Earth.DimensionA two-dimensional representation of the Earth or a part of it.The most accurate three-dimensional representation of the Earth.Accuracy of SurfaceThe curved surface of the Earth cannot be represented accurately on a flat surface.Its curved surface is a true representation of the Earth’s surface.Detail LevelUse different signs, symbols, and colors to provide distinct information.All details cannot be marked on a globe.
Mindmap: Maps vs. Globes
SKETCHES
A sketch is a rough drawing that shows where a few chosen features in an area are located relative to each other.
Sketches do not show the true shape or size of features. They are not drawn to scale, meaning the distances between features in the sketch are not in the same proportion as they are on the actual land. A sketch is just a rough picture of an area, often used to help people find their way from one place to another. While a map is accurate, a sketch is rough, giving only a general idea of the area’s features. Mindmap: Sketches
PLANS
A plan is a drawing that shows the horizontal view of a small area or a building. It is always drawn to scale.
Both show an area, just as it would look when seen from above. Plans are useful because they tell us exactly where things are on the ground. Maps and plans are quite similar, as both show an area from an overhead view. However, a map typically shows a large area (like a city, district, or state), while a plan is usually drawn for a small area (like a school or a part of a neighborhood).
A plan of a school Differences Between Sketches and Plans
Sketches and plans both involve drawings, but they have important distinctions:FeatureSketchPlanBasisDrawing based on memory of a location.Diagram showing a layout, drawn to scale.Scale AccuracyNot drawn to scale, not always accurate in showing distance.Distance between places is based on scale, always accurate.Detail LevelGenerally lacks details.Shows more details.UnderstandingSometimes difficult for people who didn’t make it.Easy for all to understand.
Mindmap: Plans and Sketch vs. Plan
Importance of Maps
Maps are very important for many reasons:
Knowledge and Information: Students and teachers use maps to gain accurate knowledge and information about places. Navigation: Navigators use maps to find directions to their destinations. Town Planning: Town planners use maps for designing and organizing cities. Travelers’ Aid: Maps are easy to carry, making them especially helpful for people who are traveling. Clear Representation: Maps show selected features without being too crowded, which makes it easier to understand the information they represent. Distinct Information: Maps use different signs, symbols, and colors to show information clearly and concisely, reducing the chances of misunderstanding. Think About It: Sketch and Area Size
Do you think a sketch can give us a correct idea of the size of an area? Why or why not? (Hint: Remember what a sketch doesn’t show accurately.)
Mindmap: Importance of Maps
Types of Maps
Maps can be categorized in different ways, either by the level of detail they show or by the scale used to draw them.
Types of Maps Based on Details Shown
Depending on the kind of details they present, maps can be divided into four main categories:
Show the boundaries of countries, states, and other political divisions. Also show the location of capital cities and important towns.
A political map
(Note: As of August 2024, the proposed capital of Andhra Pradesh is Amaravati.) Show natural surface features like mountains, valleys, plains, and rivers. Often use different colors to represent land of different heights (elevation).
A physical map Show specific themes or features, such as climate, agriculture, population distribution, or mineral deposits.
A thematic map (topos = place; graphy = to describe) Give very detailed information about local landforms, streams, rivers, canals, roads, buildings, railway tracks, and other features of smaller areas.
These maps are based on accurate land surveys. They are useful for surveyors, civil engineers (for construction of buildings, roads, bridges), and for military purposes. Mindmap: Types of Maps (Details)
Types of Maps Based on Scale
Maps are also categorized by the scale used to draw them:
These maps show a large land area in a small space. For example, 1 cm on a small-scale map might represent 200 km on the actual ground. Because they cover a large area, the features shown on these maps are not clearly visible or detailed.
A small-scale map Think about it: Which would you use to show places in your neighborhood – a plan or a map? Why? (Hint: Think about what each one is best for.) These maps show smaller areas of land in a bigger space. For example, 1 cm on a large-scale map might represent only 1 km on the actual land. Because they focus on a smaller area with more space, these maps can provide very detailed information about the features they represent.
A large-scale map Quick Fact: Cartography
The skill or art of drawing or making maps is called cartography. This word comes from two French words: carte, meaning “map” or “card,” and graphie, meaning “representation” or “description.”
Knowledge of India: Survey of India (SOI)
The Survey of India (SOI) is the oldest scientific department of the Government of India, established in 1767. It operates under the Department of Science and Technology. The SOI is India’s national organization for surveys and mapping. Its important job is to map the entire country and mark India’s external boundaries.
Quick Fact: Atlas Index
An atlas usually has an index at the back. This index lists the names of all important places along with their latitude and longitude (coordinates that help you find them on the map).
Mindmap: Types of Maps (Scale) & Related Facts
REPRESENTATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES THROUGH DIAGRAMS
We also use diagrams to show different geographical features.
Anticline and Syncline
Anticlines and synclines are parts of a simple fold. A fold happens when the Earth’s crust layers bend due to compression (pushing together). The upward arches or “upfolds” of a fold are called anticlines. The downward dips or “downfolds” (also known as troughs) of a fold are called synclines.
An Anticline and syncline Block Mountains
A fault or fracture (a crack) in the Earth’s crust is caused by strain or tension (pulling apart). This results in parts of the surface moving out of place. When cracks or faults appear in the Earth’s crust and the land between these cracks sinks down, it leaves higher blocks of land on either side. These raised areas are called block mountains.
Cracks or faults in the earth’s crust
Block mountains formed due to sinking of the adjacent land Mindmap: Diagrams - Folds and Mountains
Key River-Related Terms:
Distributary: A separate river channel that forms when a river splits, but which does not rejoin the main river channel. These are usually found in a delta region. Meander: A loop-like bend that forms in a river. Delta: A fan-shaped feature created at a river’s mouth. It forms when the silt (fine soil and sediment) carried by a river collects and is deposited in the spaces between smaller rivers (distributaries). Rivers, Tributaries, Distributaries, Meanders, and Deltas
A river is a stream of water that flows in a channel from high ground to low ground, eventually flowing into a lake or the sea. A river’s journey is often divided into three parts or stages: upper, middle, and lower. Each stage has unique features. Tributary: This is a stream that flows into a larger one, like a river, adding water to it.
Parts of a river Mindmap: Diagrams - Rivers
Putting Knowledge to Use: Giving Directions
Imagine a younger student from your school, who lives in your building, asks you for directions to the neighborhood market to buy stationery. How would you help them?
Think about how you could draw a simple sketch for them, marking major locations and streets in between. You could also point out any busy roads to avoid. Think about using a scale (even if just a rough idea), symbols, and directions on your sketch. How would it feel to guide someone you know?
Biography Spotlight: James Rennell (1742-1830)
James Rennell was a British geographer, surveyor, and oceanographer. He is often called the ‘Father of Indian Geography’ because of his significant work in mapping and understanding India’s geography. He carried out extensive surveys and mapping, especially in the Bengal region. His detailed maps of India were among the first accurate representations of the area’s geography, including its rivers and coastlines. His famous works include Memoir of a Map of Hindoostan (1788) and Bengal Atlas (1781).
Mindmap: Values and Biography
Key Terms
Here are some important words you learned in this chapter:
Map: A drawing of the whole Earth or a part of it on a flat surface. Atlas: A collection of different types of maps bound together in the form of a book. Globe: An object representing the spherical shape of the Earth with a map of the world on its surface, usually on a stand so that it can be rotated. Sketch: A rough drawing showing the relative locations of a few chosen features in an area. Plan: A drawing that shows the horizontal section of a small area or building accurately, drawn to scale. Fold: A bending of the Earth’s crust due to large-scale Earth movements. Trough: The dip (lowest point) of a fold. (Also known as a syncline). Anticline: The upfold or arch of a fold. Syncline: The downfold or trough of a fold. Fault: A fracture or crack in the Earth’s crust caused by strain or tension, leading to displacement. Block Mountain: Upstanding blocks of land formed when the surface between cracks or faults in the Earth’s crust sinks. River: A stream of water flowing in a channel from high to low ground, into a lake or sea. Tributary: A stream that drains into a larger river, contributing water to it. Distributary: A separate river channel created when a river splits, which does not rejoin the main channel (often in a delta). Meander: A loop-like bend in a river. Delta: A fan-shaped feature at a river’s mouth, formed by deposited silt. Cartography: The art or skill of drawing or making maps. Overall Summary: Points to Remember
This image summarizes the main points of the chapter: Sketches: Rough drawings showing relative locations, not drawn to scale. Plans: Maps of small areas drawn accurately to scale. A Globe is an accurate three-dimensional, spherical representation of the Earth. Maps are drawings of the whole Earth or a part of it on a flat surface. Based on Details Shown: Political (boundaries, capitals), Physical (mountains, rivers), Thematic (climate, minerals). Based on Scale: Large-scale (detailed, smaller area), Small-scale (less detail, larger area). Representation of Geographical Features also includes diagrams of: Anticlines (upfolds) and Synclines (downfolds). Rivers, Tributaries, Distributaries, Meanders, and Deltas. Mindmap: Overall Summary and Key Terms
Self Study
A map showing the continents and oceans of the world
A Globe
Both show an area, just as it would look when seen from above.
This image summarizes the main points of the chapter:
