Using an Atlas An atlas is a book of maps, diagrams and photographs, and is designed to give the reader a window on the world. Atlases reveal regions with different landscapes and climates and show peopld of different cultures.
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Different Types of Atlas Maps |
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Theme Maps These maps take individual themes and apply them to regions. Examples of theme maps for a region might be climate, vegetation, population, health, income or crime. The transfer of information onto maps makes it easier to see patterns. Some theme maps use different colours to show different features. Others use different shades of the same colour to show the amounts of one feature. |
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Physical Maps The natural features of a region are shown on physical maps. Mountain ranges, plateaus, rivers, seas and other physical features are highlighted. Information about countries, towns and cities is kept to a minimum. |
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Political Maps These maps generally show the countries fo the world, but they can also be used to shwo the states and territories of a country, for example the states of Australia. They are called political maps because they show the political units or the independent regions controlled by a governement. |
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