What is a scale and legend on a map?

What is a scale and legend on a map?

A map key is an inset on a map that explains the symbols, provides a scale, and usually identifies the type of map projection used. Technically, the key is part of the map legend. The key explains the symbols while the legend holds the key and other information.

What are legends in maps?

A map legend or key is a visual explanation of the symbols used on the map. It typically includes a sample of each symbol (point, line, or area), and a short description of what the symbol means. For example, a short segment of a blue sinuous line may be labeled ‘rivers’.

How does legend and scale differ?

Scale represents the ratio of a distance on the map to the actual distance in the real world. A legend explains all the symbols on a map.

What is a scale in a map?

A commonly used scale for this purpose is 1:600 (1 inch on the map represents 50 feet on the ground). This scale is so large that many features such as buildings, roads, railroad tracks that are usually represented on smaller scale maps by symbols can be drawn to scale. 1:500,000 scale. _ 1:20,000 scale.

What is legend or key?

Definition: A key or legend is a list of symbols that appear on the map. For example, a church on the map may appear as a cross, a cross attached to a circle, a cross attached to a square. Symbols and colours can also represent different things like roads, rivers and land height.

What is the difference between a legend and a key?

A legend is a caption, a title or brief explanation appended to an article, illustration, cartoon, or poster. A key is an explanatory list of symbols used in a map, table, etc. Legend is more generic, while key is more specific. Neither word implicates anything about the location of the text/list.

Why is a legend on a map?

A map key or legend is an essential part of the map. It explains what the symbols on the map mean and allows you to make sense of the map. Maps are very valuable tools that can be used to easily show things that would otherwise be difficult to understand.

Are keys and legends the same thing?

A legend is a caption, a title or brief explanation appended to an article, illustration, cartoon, or poster. A key is an explanatory list of symbols used in a map, table, etc.

What are the 7 elements of a map?

Map Elements

• Main map body. Exactly what it sounds like, this is the map itself.
• Legend. Also known as a key, the legend explains any symbols used on the map.
• Title. The map title reflects the subject of the map.
• Inset map.
• Scale indicator.
• Orientation indicator.
• Source note.
• Creator graphic.

What does a 1 50000 scale mean?

A graphical or bar scale. A map would also usually give its scale numerically (“1:50,000”, for instance, means that one cm on the map represents 50,000cm of real space, which is 500 meters) A bar scale with the nominal scale , expressed as both “1cm = 6km” and “1:600 000” (equivalent, because 6km = 600 000cm)

What is verbal scale?

A verbal scale also referred to as a “word statement” or “scale expression”, is where the response options are presented to the respondent using words, whether spoken or written.