Common Reader

A map is made up of several elements. Not all maps have all of the elements.

Parts of a map:

1. Data (or map) frame
2. Map legend
3. Map title
4. North arrow
5. Map scale (the NSU map below does not have a scale indicator) 
   • A scale bar looks similar to a ruler. It shows the ground distance as compared to the map.
   • Scale can be indicated as a fraction. For example: 1:1,000
   • Scale can be written out. For example: one inch to the mile
   • If there is no scale, that should be noted "map not to scale"

Road Map

A map showing the roads of an area, generally for motorists use.

Road map of downtown Norfolk from the Virginia Department of Transportation

Transit Map

A transit map is a map in the form of a schematic diagram used to illustrate the routes and stations within a public transport system with named icons to indicate stations or stops. Their primary function is to help users to efficiently use the public transport system, including which stations function as interchange between lines. Unlike conventional maps, transit maps are usually not geographically accurate—instead they use straight lines and fixed angles, and often illustrate a fixed distance between stations, compressing those in the outer area of the system and expanding those close to the center. (from Wikipedia)

Hampton Roads Transit, Light Rail Route 800

"The distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is the use of elevation contour lines to show the shape of the Earth's surface. Elevation contours are imaginary lines connecting points having the same elevation on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface, which is usually mean sea level. Contours make it possible to show the height and shape of mountains, the depths of the ocean bottom, and the steepness of slopes.

USGS topographic maps also show many other kinds of geographic features including roads, railroads, rivers, streams, lakes, boundaries, place or feature names, mountains, and much more. Older maps (published before 2006) show additional features such as trails, buildings, towns, mountain elevations, and survey control points. Those will be added to more current maps over time."

-from What is a topographic map? by the USGS

"A literary map is a map that acknowledges the contributions of authors to a specific state or region as well as those that depict the geographical locations in works of fiction. Literary maps can feature real places connected with an individual author, literary character or book, or they may show fictional landscapes."

-from Using Literary Maps in the Classroom

The Beat Generation Map of America. Stan Grant, Illustrator. Los Angeles: Aaron Blake, 1987

"A nautical chart is one of the most fundamental tools available to the mariner. It is a map that depicts the configuration of the shoreline and seafloor. It provides water depths, locations of dangers to navigation, locations and characteristics of aids to navigation, anchorages, and other features.

The nautical chart is essential for safe navigation. Mariners use charts to plan voyages and navigate ships safely and economically. Federal regulations require most commercial vessels to carry electronic or paper nautical charts while they transit U.S. waters.

Since the mid-1830s, the U.S. Coast Survey (a NOAA predecessor agency) has been the nation’s nautical chartmaker. NOAA's Office of Coast Survey is still responsible for creating and maintaining all charts of U.S. coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and waters surrounding U.S. territories."

-from What is a nautical chart? by NOAA

Detail of Norfolk Harbor and Elizabeth River, NOAA chart #12253