3 Types of Scales Used On a Geographical Map

A map scale gives the relationship between distance on a map and distance on the actual ground. There are three major types of scales used on a geographical map, which we shall discuss in this post.

Statement of scale (word scale)

•A statement of scale or word sale uses words to describe the relationship between the units measured on the map and the units measured on the actual ground.
•For example, one centimeter on the map to represent two kilometers on the ground.
•This can be abbreviated as 1 cm represents 2km.
Ratio scale (Representative fraction (R.F. scale)
•This type of scale uses only numbers to describe the relationship between the distance on the ground and that on the map. For example, 1:50,000 or

Line scale

•A line scale is a line drawn below the map that shows the relationship between map distance and ground distance.
•The length of the line matches the distance on the map. The units of measurement that are labeled on the line represent the distance on the ground.

Elevation

•Elevation means the height of a place in landscape.
•Another word with a similar meaning is altitude, which means height above mean or average sea level.
• Elevation is a characteristic of relief maps and topographic maps only.