Map reading and interpretation   by 
							
 
							
								
							
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What is a map
- It's a representative of the earth or a portion of the earth on a flat surface
 
- The flat surface can be a piece of paper ,chalkboard or a globe
 
- What map representation?
 
- Map representation is a process of giving meaning to the features shown on a map 
 
 
ELEMENTS OF A MAP
 Frame

Example
 
Frame is the border that surrounds and supports a picture or a map
Title discribes the topic of a map.
Title
It also gives iinformation that they need in order to use the map .

Compass direction
Sixteen point are mainly used
 
It is used to tell direction of an object from another
The four main points of the compass direction
points are called cardinals
 
◆North
◆East
◆South
◆West
 
Key
Real features and distances on a map are represented using special techniques
These techniques include;
 
   a. colours
 
Are used to show vegetation.
   b.Water bodies for example rivers and lakes 
 
 
 
 
Yellow colour; is used to  show plains
 c. Plain
 
Brown colour;is used to show highlands
 
 
 
 
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Purple; is used to show mountain peak Mountain.
d.Mountain

Mountain peak
Brown colour; is used to show lowlands and vegetation
e.Lowlands
  Vegetation
 
b)Symbols;  are used to identify economyactivities in an area
 
Sereti area
 
SCALE ;is the relationship ibetween distances on a map and the actual  distances on the ground. 
 
A map
Scale
 
(b)  INTERPRETING HUMAN ACTIVITIES
 
•These are things that people do or engage in to get income.
•These activities are usually represented in a map using symbols
•These activities include ;
Crop farming
 
Wh____ 
                                 
T____

M___
Livestock farming

Mining 

Fishing 

Trade
 
 
 
 
 
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Forest
• Identity the pictures
 
 
Tourism
 
Transportation
Name the pictures
 
- W_______
 
- Ro_____
 
- Rai________
 
The key for human activities
• Examples of symbols representing the activities taking place in a given map
 
 
• Remember fishing is represented by a fish trap (FT) and other related symbols 
 
(c) Interpreting drainag features
 
• They include;
 
(a) lake
 
 
(b) River

 
 
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(c) sea/ocean
Sea

 Ocean
 
Name the pictures
(d) swamp       
 
( e)Spring

(f)Dam 
• Artificial water body 
 
 
 (g) Borehole/ waterhole
 
 •  Name the pictures
 
 
The symbols representing drainage  features
 
• Key 
 
 
(h) Interpreting settlements 
 
• These are huts and houses
 
 
Symbols for huts and houses
- Huts
 
- Permanent houses/buildings 
 
 
 
 
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(I) Interpreting vegetation Vegetation include;
( i) Forests
 
(ii) Thickest
 
(iii) Bamboo forests
 
(iv) Riverine trees
 
Symbols for interpreting vegetation
(v) Interpreting administration in the area
• Administrative features include;
 
◆Boundaries for locations, divisions,districts, towns, urban , municipalies, cities and counties
 
 
| 
 Name 
 | 
 administrator 
 | 
 symbol 
 | 
| 
 Location 
 | 
 chief 
 | 
 cc 
  
 | 
| 
 Division 
 | 
 District officer 
 | 
 Do 
 | 
| 
 District 
 | 
 District commissioner 
 | 
 Dc 
 | 
| 
 Town 
 | 
 Chairman 
 | 
 Tco 
 | 
| 
 Municipal 
 | 
 Mayor 
 | 
 mco 
 | 
| 
 City council 
 | 
 Mayor 
 | 
 Cco 
 | 
| 
 County 
 | 
 Governor 
 | 
 co 
 | 
 
 
 QUESTIONS
Use the map below to answer the following questions,nos.1_5
- Maki area is likely to be administered by_____
 
- The direction of the quarry from the coffee plantation is ______
 
- The presence of livestock in Maki is shown by____
 
- Th main means of transport in Maki area is____
 
- The cash crop grown in Maki area is____
 
- List five elements of a map
 
- _____is used to show direction
 
- List Five economic activities in a map
 
ANSWERS
1.Chief
2.North East  (NE)
3.Cattle dip (CD)
4.Road
5.Coffee
6.Frame, Title, key, compass direction and Scale
7.Compass direction
8.Trade, transportation, tourism, crop farming, livestock farming , Fishing , mining and forestry