MAP READING SKILLS

A map is a drawing representing all or a part of the earth’s

surface. Maps are drawn by cartographers.
ATTRIBUTES OR CHARACTERISTICS OF MAPS
1. Title – shows us what the map is about.
2. Scale – is used to calculate the ground distance between
places on a map. It shows map users how many times
smaller the map is when compared to the real area on the
ground. Scale shows the relationship between real life
ground distance and distances on the map.
3. Key (Legend) and symbols – The key / legend explains the
meaning of symbols used on the map. Symbols show
information and physical features on the ground.
4. Direction sign – It is used to locate places on the map.

LO 2.4.1 Use the map key to interpret features on a

map.
May key is very important as it explains the symbols used on a
map that represents features.
Map Key (Legend) and symbols – The key / legend explains the
meaning of symbols used on the map. Symbols show
information and physical features on the ground.

LO 2.4.2 Locate position of features on a map using

o Grid reference
o Direction
o Bearing
o Latitudes and longitudes

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GRID REFERENCES
A grid reference is a network of uniformly spaced horizontal
and vertical lines used to locate places on a topographic map.
The horizontal lines of a grid reference are called northings
because their numbers / values increase as one moves
northwards. The vertical ones are called eastings because
their values increase as one moves eastwards.
Locating Places using 4 figure grid reference
o A grid line is defined by two figures, for example 09, 12,
34
o A four figure reference have four figures, for example
(2334)
o When locating places always start with the vertical lines
(easting) then the horizontal ones (northing).
o The position of any point will be described by the bottom
left corner of the point that you are locating or southwest
corner of a square in which a particular point is found.
o The south west corner is known as the point of origin.
o Four figure grid references tell us the location of a feature
in a square and not its exact position.

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MAP DIRECTIONS
We use an instrument known as the compass to find the
direction of one place from another.
Cardinal Points
The main compass directions are north, south, east and west.
Between the main directions are intermediate points; north-
east, south-east, south-west and north-west.

Giving direction
 When holding a map upright, always note that the top of
the map is where your north is. The bottom is the
south, the right side of the map is the east and the
left side of the map is west.

 When giving direction always imagine that you are

standing at the place mentioned immediately after the
word from. For example, find the direction of X from T
below. This is like saying if you stand at T and point at X
where would you be pointing. The answer is North West.

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 W T E

Bearing is an angle that indicates the direction of one point in

relation to another. It's usually measured in degrees˚ clockwise
from north, with 0 degrees representing north, 90 degrees
representing east, 180 degrees representing south, and 270
degrees representing west.

How to locate direction of points in relation to another

in angles- bearing
1. Make a straight line (North line) with a ruler on the feature
where it says FROM
2. Join the two places with a ruler
3. Use a protector to measure the angle clockwise from the
north line
LOCATION PLACES USING LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE
LINES.
Latitude lines
These are horizontal lines. All latitude lines begin at the line of
equator. This is the zero degrees (0 º) line; it divides the earth
into northern and southern hemisphere.

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Other important latitude lines are the:
i) Tropic of Capricorn - 23½º S. This line passes also in
Botswana near Mahalapye.
ii) Tropic of Cancer - 23½º N.
iii) Arctic Circle – 66½º N
iv) Antarctic Circle – 66½º S

Lines of Longitude (meridians)

These are vertical lines. The zero degrees (0º) longitude line is
known as the Greenwich meridian or prime meridian. This line
divides the earth into eastern and western hemispheres.
How to locate features on a map using lines of latitude
and longitude
 Firstly, identify the latitude line that runs through the
feature and record its position in terms of degrees.
 Remember that lines of latitude always start with the
equator either south or north of it.
 Secondly look for the longitude line that runs through
that point and record its position in terms of degrees.
 Remember that lines of longitude are either east or
west of the prime meridian.
 Finally give the coordinates by writing them like this:
Manyana 24oS 25oE

Points to remember when locating places/features using

lines of latitude and longitude.

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  Always give the coordinate for the line of latitude first,
followed by the coordinate of the line of longitude.
 The coordinates consist of the degree of angle and the
direction of the line, for example, 10oS 12oE
 Latitudes always have direction north or south because
they are measured from the equator.
 Longitudes always have direction east or west because
they are measured from the prime meridian.

Use Longitudes to calculate time difference

1. Calculate Longitudinal Difference between the places (LD)
 Places in the same direction, subtract smallest degrees of
longitudes from highest degrees in longitude
 Places in different direction, add degrees of longitudes

2. Calculate Time Difference (TD) between the places

15˚=makes 1 hour
1 ˚=makes 4 minutes

TD=Difference in longitudinal difference

15˚

3. Calculate the time in a place

 Places behind or in the left of the place allocated time-
subtract TD/Time Difference from the time given.
 Places ahead or in the right of the place allocated time-
add TD/Time Difference to the time given.

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LO2.4.3Use Map Scale
MAP SCALE
There are three types of scale.
 Statement/word scale
 Linear/bar/line scale
 Representative fraction or ratio scale

a) Statement scale – This type of scale is written in the

form of a statement. For example, one centimeter
represents hundred kilometers.
How to use statement scale to calculate ground
distance-
Given a map scale 1centimeter represents 100 kilometers.
Measured map distance between the two places = 10cm.
The calculated ground distance = 100km x 10cm
Answer = 1000km.

b) Linear Scale – This type of scale is shown in the form of a

line or a bar.

0 1 2 3 4

How to use linear scale to calculate ground distance.

(i) Measuring distance along a straight line
You take a piece of paper and place it along the line that
you are measuring. Mark each of the distance on a paper and
hold it along the linear scale for distance.

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(ii) Measuring distance along curved lines
Take a straight-edged piece of paper. Mark the starting point
then move it until it touches the shortest straight section of the
curved line. Make a mark on the piece of paper and the line
that you are measuring. Continue doing this until the end of the
line that you are measuring. Place the marked piece of paper
carefully against the linear scale to find the exact distance.

c) Ratio Scale / Representative Fraction scale – This

type of scale is written in ratio form e.g. 1: 20 000. This
means that 1centimeter on the map represents 20 000
centimeters on the ground. Note that the units of the scale
for the map distance and ground distance are the same. It
can also be in the form of a fraction e.g. ½0 000.
How to use ratio scale to calculate ground distance
Ratio: 1: 50 000
Map distance between two places = 10cm
Calculate the ground distance.
Answer: 10cm * 50 000cm = 500 000cm
Now convert 500 000cm to kilometers
500 000 / 100 000 = 5km.
The ground distance = 5km.

LO2.4.3 Identify Features on a map using contour lines

Contour lines
These are lines that are drawn on a map joining places of the
same altitude. Altitude refers to the height of a place above sea
level.
 Contours are measured in meters or feet.
 Contours never cross each other.
 When contour lines are close to each other it means that
the land is steep.
 When contour lines are far apart, the land is gentle or flat.
 The vertical interval means the difference in height
between two successive contour lines and is measured in
metres.
e.g. from the diagram below the vertical interval (vi) is 100 m.

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The horizontal equivalent is the distance between two places
on a map.
Contour line

150 m

100m
Altitude

50 m

Other ways of showing the altitude/relief are as follows:

Trigonometric stations
 Primary T/2
111.1

 Secondary

 Tertiary

They are marked as triangles with a name and height above

sea level e.g. for the primary trigonometric station, T/2 is the
name while 111.1 is the height in meters above sea level.

Spots heights
They are marked as a dot on a map with a number (height in
meters) nearby
e.g ● 900

Colours
Different colours can be used to show different altitude. This
can be done in two ways:
 Layer colouring
 Hill shading

DETERMINING PHYSICAL FEATURES USING CONTOUR

LINES
Physical features refer to the various landforms e.g. rivers
valleys, mountains, hills, plateaus, depressions, flat land, cliffs
HILL

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It is a small area of land that rises steeply from the surrounding
land. The contour lines for a hill are circular, with the most
inner contour lines having the highest value.

Hills have height

less than 1000m

MOUNTAIN
It is a larger area of land rising steeply from the surrounding
area. The contour lines for a mountain are circular, the inner
contour lines have the highest value. The mountain has a wider
base and a highest peak.

Note that- hills are smaller than mountains Hills are less than
1000m. while mountains are above 1000m.
KNOLL
A small hill.
CLIFF
It is a vertical slope. The contour lines from a cliff are very close
to each other, as if they are merging into one.

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DEPRESSION
It is a low-lying area surrounded by highland. The contour lines
for a depression are also circular. The most inner contour line
has the lowest value.

Contour pattern of a depression

PLATEAU
It is a larger area of land that rises steeply from the
surrounding land and it is flat at the top. The contour lines are
circular with a larger space at the centre without contour lines.

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A VALLEY
A valley is a narrow lowland surrounded by highlands. The
contour lines for a valley are V-shaped and the v points towards
a highland. The highest contour lines are on the outside.
Normally a river flows from a highland towards a lowland. A
River Valley it is a long narrow depression on the land surface
through which water flows. River

Sometimes a river passes through a valley. For

example, Chobe River.
SPUR
It is a narrow piece of highland jutting out from the side of a
mountain or hill. It points towards lower land. The contour lines
for a spur are V-shaped and the v points towards a lowland. The
lowest contour lines are on the outside.

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The lowest contour lines are on the outside and points towards

a lowland

FLAT LAND/GENTLE SLOPE

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The land here is almost level. The contour lines for a flat land

are far apart

SADDLE
A shallow depression of area or the lowest point between two
higher elevations, like mountain peaks or hills

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE LOCATION

1. Availability of (name water source) for water supply such as
domestic use or fishing
2. Availability of a flat land or gentle slope for easy construction
of settlements or cultivation
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3. Availability of hills for defence
4. Availability of road/ railway line for transport
5. Availability of vegetation (savannah) for pastoral farming

DESCRIBING LOCATION
The following words are used to describe a location
1. Near hills for defense
2. Along river for water supply
3. On a flat land/gentle slope for easy construction of
settlements and cultivation
4. Between
5. North/South/West/North of

FACILITIES AND SERVICES PROVIDED IN SETTLEMENTS

FACILITIES SERVICES
School Education
Hospitals/Clinics Health
Police Station Security/Protection
Shop Shopping
Church Worship/Religious Purpose
Hotel Accommodation
Post Office Postal Services
Bank Banking
Fuel Station Fuel Supply
Powerline/station Power Supply
Railway/Road/airport Transport
Cemetery Burial
River/lake/dam Water Supply
High Court Administration of Service
Telephone Communication
Insurance Company Insurance
Fire Station Fire Fighting
Restaurants Food Supply/Catering
Hair Salon Hair Dressing
Land Board Land Allocation
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Community Hall/Station Recreation/Entertainment

FEATURES AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES

FEATURE HUMAN ACTIVITY
Forest Lumbering
Cultivated area or Crop field Arable Farming
Veterinary Assistant Pastoral Farming
Mines Mining

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