Why do maps use symbols

Ottawa: Geological Survey of Canada, 66p. Canberra, unpaginated. Brockemuel, H. Wilson, , Minimum letter size for visual aids, Prof. Geographer 28 2 , — Harvey, P. New York: Thames and Hudson, p. Keates, J. London: Longman, p. Nesbitt, A. New York: Dover, p. Robinson, A. Sale, and J. If you are designing symbols for a map, think about shapes that remind you in some way of what you are showing.

For instance, you might use an envelope shape, as in the key show here, to represent a Post Office building. In atlases and professional maps, there are also Map Keys that indicate different kinds of lettering, the size of cities, population and other map details.

Find It Fast! Need Help? Area symbols indicate country boundaries, lakes, parks, soil parcels and wildlife distribution. Line symbols represent rivers, roads and railway lines. Point symbols show the tops of mountains and indicate the locations of man-made structures. Map symbols consist of lines, letters and graphics. The symbols can be anything from a dot to a more complex illustration.

Map features and symbols vary somewhat based on the type of map. Every map has a legend that provides a key for the symbols. A map without symbols is a useless tool. Symbols provide important information on distances, geography and locations. Maps are extremely limited in what they can represent.

Symbols are necessary to convey the information maps provide. Maps will continue to grow and change along with our culture. As technology improves, so will our ability to draw maps.