Understand Maps and Cartography
Learn how to read a map, understand latitute and longitude and map scale, identify projections, and more.
Map Colors
Maps usually use a standard palette of map colors to represent features on the earth. Learn about map colors from your About.com expert Guide to Geography.
Maps usually use a standard palette of map colors to represent features on the earth. Learn about map colors from your About.com expert Guide to Geography.
How to Measure Distances on a Map
Learn how to measure distances on a map.
Learn how to measure distances on a map.
Dating Old Maps and Globes
Discover how to determine the date that an old map or globe was published.
Discover how to determine the date that an old map or globe was published.
Dating Old Maps
Some quick tips to help you determine the age of a map when there's no date listed.
Some quick tips to help you determine the age of a map when there's no date listed.
How to Measure Distances on a Map
Six quick steps to help determine the ground distance based on two points on a map.
Six quick steps to help determine the ground distance based on two points on a map.
International Date Line
Learn about the imaginary line that divides one day from another in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Learn about the imaginary line that divides one day from another in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Parts of a Map
Maps are the basic tools of geography. They enable us to depict spatial phenomenon on paper. There are conventions used in cartography which allow a map to be read efficiently and quickly. Learn how to use the different parts of a map.
Maps are the basic tools of geography. They enable us to depict spatial phenomenon on paper. There are conventions used in cartography which allow a map to be read efficiently and quickly. Learn how to use the different parts of a map.
Isolines
Isolines are often used on maps to represent points of equal value - discover the diverse nature of isolines.
Isolines are often used on maps to represent points of equal value - discover the diverse nature of isolines.
Latitude and Longitude
Learn about the longitude and latitude lines running across your maps. What do they mean? How do you read them?
Learn about the longitude and latitude lines running across your maps. What do they mean? How do you read them?
Map Projections
It is impossible to accurately represent the spherical surface of the earth on a flat piece of paper. Thus, we have map projections. This article discusses topic and provides an excellent overview.
It is impossible to accurately represent the spherical surface of the earth on a flat piece of paper. Thus, we have map projections. This article discusses topic and provides an excellent overview.
Map Scale
Scale indicates the relationship between a certain distance on the map and the distance on the ground. Find out how scale is chosen and its impact.
Scale indicates the relationship between a certain distance on the map and the distance on the ground. Find out how scale is chosen and its impact.
Parts of a Map
Learn about the primary components of a map - from the neatline around the border to the color used on the map.
Learn about the primary components of a map - from the neatline around the border to the color used on the map.
Peters Projection vs. Mercator Projection
The great debate of cartography centers on the controversy surrounding these two projections. Discover both sides of the issue and find out why it's really quite bizarre.
The great debate of cartography centers on the controversy surrounding these two projections. Discover both sides of the issue and find out why it's really quite bizarre.
Township and Range: The United States Public Lands Survey
The checkerboard pattern of the land in the Western U.S. is no accident. Learn how and why the division into thousands of squares took place.
The checkerboard pattern of the land in the Western U.S. is no accident. Learn how and why the division into thousands of squares took place.
A Gallery of Map Projections
A fantastic collection of Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) files of nearly every map projection under the sun. These black and white images are an excellent resource.
A fantastic collection of Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) files of nearly every map projection under the sun. These black and white images are an excellent resource.