Map Reading Skills Lesson: How to Understand and Use Maps
Lesson Overview
- Orienteering a Map Without a Compass
- Points of the Compass Order
- Different Types of North on Maps
- Safety Practice When Walking on Roads During Orienteering
- Map-Reading Basics
- Features of Political Maps
- Four-Figure Grid References
- Typical Scale of Continental Maps
- Features of Country Maps
Map reading skills help you understand geographic information shown on maps. These skills include knowing compass directions, grid references, map symbols, and how to use scale. This lesson teaches you the key concepts needed to read maps accurately.
Orienteering a Map Without a Compass
Orienteering a map means finding your way using natural signs when you do not have a compass. The North Star is the most reliable natural guide at night because it points north. Other natural signs like wind or temperature are less useful for finding direction.
Example:
At night, you can locate the North Star to find north and then align your map accordingly to navigate.
Quick Tip:
Use the North Star to find north when a compass is not available.
Points of the Compass Order
The main compass points are North, East, South, and West. These points are arranged clockwise starting at the top of the compass with North. This order helps you orient maps and navigate directions correctly.
Example:
If the map's top is North, East is to the right, South is at the bottom, and West is to the left.
Quick Tip:
Remember the compass points start at North and go clockwise: N, E, S, W.
Different Types of North on Maps
Maps show different types of north: true north, magnetic north, and map north. True north points to the Earth's North Pole and stays fixed. Magnetic north is where compasses point, but it moves over time. Map north is the top edge of the map and may differ from true north.
Example:
Your compass points to magnetic north, but the map's top is true north, so you must adjust when navigating.
Quick Tip:
True north is fixed, while magnetic north changes with location.
Safety Practice When Walking on Roads During Orienteering
Walking on the left side of the road lets you face oncoming traffic, which increases safety. This rule is common in many countries but check local laws to be sure.
Example:
In the UK, walking on the left side of the road while hiking lets you see vehicles coming toward you.
Quick Tip:
Walk on the left side to face traffic and stay safe.
Map-Reading Basics
The basics of map reading include compass directions, grid references, map key, scale, and title. Compass directions orient the map. Grid references locate points using coordinates. The key explains symbols. Scale shows real distances. The title tells the map's subject.
Example:
The map key might show that blue lines represent rivers, and the scale helps measure the distance between two places.
Quick Tip:
Check the key and scale before using a map.
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Features of Political Maps
Political maps show borders, capital cities, and major rivers but not land elevation. Contour lines that show height appear only on physical maps.
Example:
A political map shows country boundaries but does not display mountains or hills.
Quick Tip:
Political maps show borders and cities, not land shape.
Four-Figure Grid References
A four-figure grid reference identifies a grid square on the map using eastings and northings. The first two digits show east, the last two north, marking a specific square.
Example:
Grid reference 3247 means 32 east and 47 north, locating one grid square.
Quick Tip:
Four-figure grid references move north and east.
Typical Scale of Continental Maps
The scale on continental maps is large, like 1:10,000,000, meaning 1 cm on the map equals 10 million cm (100 km) in reality. Larger areas use larger scales and show less detail.
Example:
At 1:10,000,000 scale, 1 cm on the map equals 100 km on the ground.
Quick Tip:
Larger map areas have bigger scales and less detail.
Features of Country Maps
Country maps show important places, land steepness, and grid lines. They do not show bus numbers or street names, which are details for city maps.
Example:
A country map labels towns and shows hills but not local bus routes.
Quick Tip:
Country maps focus on major places and land features, not streets or buses.
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