Basics of mapping: 1

Maps are representations of the world. Maps are written by people called cartographers to help other people navigatenavigate: find your way around the world. Maps contain information tailored to a specific purpose.

• A road map, for example, contains information that helps the reader get from one place to another using a vehicle.
• The maps found in a geographical atlas on the other hand will contain information of less interest or less use to a road user, such as how the land in a place is used, the population density or the political boundaries that exist between regions, states and nations.

Being able to read a map is a useful skill in everyday life to help you find your way, but it could also help you get a good grade in Geography GCSE. There are five fundamental things you need to be familiar with to read a map successfully:

• compass directions
• grid references
• map's key
• title
• scale

Compass directions

Compass directions are vital for finding your way around a map. There are many ways to remember where each direction goes. You probably learnt a rhyme or a phrase to help you remember - if not, here's one now. Starting at the top and moving clockwise the directions on a compass or map are:

Points of a compass

1. North - Naughty
2. East - Elephants
3. South - Squirt
4. West - Water

Grid references

OS maps are divided into numbered squares. These squares can be used to give a place a four or six- figure grid reference. It is important that you know both four-figure and six-figure grid references as you may be required to describe what happens in an area of the map or at a specific point.

Eastings

Lines that run up and down the map - and increase in number the further you move east (or right). Therefore they tell you how far to travel east.

Northings

Lines that run across the map horizontally - and increase in number the further you move north (or up the map). Therefore they tell you how far to travel north.

Remember:

• numbers along the bottom of the map come first and the numbers up the side of the map come second
• four-figure reference 1982 refers to the square where the Eastings line 19 meets the Northing line 82.
• six-figure reference 198823 will give you the exact point in the square 1982 - 8/10s of the way across and 3/10s of the way up

The six-figure reference on the map below shows the village of Shatton.

OS map