Maps and Regions

There are many types of maps, and they all convey different kinds of information about places.​

• ​Physical maps show physical geography features, such as landforms and bodies of water.

• ​Physical maps are sometimes called physical relief maps because they also show relief, or change in land elevation.

• ​Political maps are used to show political boundaries.

• ​These boundaries can be between nations, states, territories, counties, and even cities and towns.

• ​Political maps also often show capital cities and other important cities in a country or area.

• ​Thematic maps show information about a specific theme or subject.

• ​They are also sometimes called special-purpose maps.

• ​Climate maps, vegetation maps, and population density maps are examples of thematic maps.

• ​A region consists of nearby places that share one or more geographic characteristics.

• ​These shared characteristics could be similar physical geography features, such as climate, vegetation, and landforms.

• ​Or the shared characteristics could be similar human and cultural features, such as major industries, ethnic populations, languages spoken, and religions practiced.

• ​Physical regions are defined by physical geography characteristics, such as landforms and bodies of water.

• ​One example of a physical region is the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the northeastern part of the United States.

• Cultural regions are defined by human characteristics, such as religion, language, political borders, and economic industries.

• ​Traits of cultural regions include speaking the same language, eating the same foods, and sharing the same religious beliefs.