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.