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WELCOME
TO GEOGRAPHY CLASS.
MAPWORK
PAPER ONE WORK (312/1)
QUESTION 6
COMMON MARGINAL INFORMATION ON
TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS.
Scales- There are two scales on the map; ratio scale 1:50,000
at upper margin and linear scale in lower margin.
Sheet name- written at the upper margin on bold letters.
Eg…Nkubu map, Kirinyaga, Migwani etc
Sheet title- Written at the top margin connected with the
scale. Eg.. EAST AFRICA 1;50,000.
Scales- Shown on the lower margin. Not everything
shown in the key are on the map.
Latitudinal extend- Shown on the left and right hand
margins. It shows the extend in terms of North and
South.
Eg..0ᵒ 10′ S -0ᵒ15′S etc
Longitudinal extend- Shows on the upper and lower
margins. It shows how the land extends eastwards or
westwards..
Eg .. 0ᵒ 15′ E -0ᵒ35′E
ENTERPRETATION OF TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS.
Study the map extract first before looking at the key.
Avoid using terms like, left, right, bottom , centre or top
of the map when giving location of a place instead use
compass directions ie. East,West, north or south.
One evidence in the map should not give conclusive
description.
If a represented place by the map has a name, use that
name in your description.
use the words that suggests possibilities in order to
leave room for other possibilities eg..The presence of
seasonal rivers on the map is likely indication of seasonal
rainfall in the area.
INTERPRETATIONS OF PHYSICAL
FEATURES ON TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS.
1. DRAINAGE
2. RELIEF
3. DISTRIBUTION OF SETTLEMENT
4. CLIMATE
5. VEGETATION
6. SOIL
1. DRAINAGE
Points to consider when describing drainage.
Identify the available swamps by their
names. Eg..There is Lorian swamps to the East
Indicate the general flow of rivers. Eg..River
Siwo flow from north East to the west.
Identify the main river in the region…eg
River Tana is the main river.
Identify the permanent rivers on the map.
Eg..The permanent rivers in Nkubu are…….
Show the patterns formed by the rivers. Eg…
Most rivers in Nkubu forms tendritic pattern.
Indicate any lake available and perhaps its
location. Use four grid reference.
Show the stages of a river is possible.
NB. ALL RIVERS START FROM:
Areas with highest contour value to the lowest .
The forest or mountain areas.
Swampy regions. (confirm this by checking contour values.)
2. RELIEF.
WHEN INTERPRETING RELIEF, CHECK ON:
Hills available giving their names and
location.
The highest point with evidence (Contours
or trigonometric stations & spot heights)
General trends of the land( use contours)
eg …The land slant to the south.
Indicate the location of escarpment as
indicated by very close contours.
Gentle slopes as indicated by spaced
contours.
Flat lands indicated by presence of
swamps.
3. DISTRIBUTION OF SETTLEMENT.
FACTORS INFLUENCING SETTLEMENT IN A GIVEN AREA.
Consider factors that encourages and discourages
settlement.
Factors discouraging settlement in a given area.
Swampy areas- Forms breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Forests- Gazetted areas can’t be inhabited. Also
areas with dangerous animals are avoided.
Steep slopes- Discourages farming activities.
Game parks- People tend to live far away from parks
due to attacks by animals eg leopards,
hyenas and lions.
Land plantations- People are evacuated to create
large land for farming.
NB..USE INFORMATION ON THE MAP TO EXPLAIN.
Factors encouraging settlement
distribution on the are.
Roads- people live near roads for
effective transportations.
Gentle slopes- Aid in farming
activities especially in use of machines.
Rivers- Provides water for domestic and industrial use.
Market centres- For effective commercial activities
eg trading.
Police posts- People live near police stations for
security purposes.
HOW TO DESCRIBE SETTLEMENT
-USE TERMINOLOGIES LIKE;
There is dense settlement on…..
There is sparse settlement on….
There is cluster settlement on….
NB- Avoid using the term population..eg
There is high population on…
SETTLEMENT PATTERN
Dense settlement- Shown by
presence of close settlement
units(houses)
Sparse settlement- Shown by
presence of settlement units
which are spread.
Linear settlement- Shown by
settlement units placed in a line
eg …Along the roads, rivers,
electric lines and plantation
hedges
4. CLIMATE
Consider the following factors when describing
climate:
a. crops grown
tea leaves- Indicates well distributed rainfall (cool and wet).
Sisals- indicates hot and dry climate
b. Vegetation
forests- indicates high rainfall.
Scrubs- indicates low rainfall.
c. Contours
Contours above 1800m indicates low temperatures
contours about 600m and below indicates high temperatures.
5. VEGETATION
When describing vegetations, check the following:
Identify the forests by the name or direction.
locate the scrubs by using direction.
Identify bamboo vegetation by using direction
Locate papyrus vegetation if any.
Locate where grasses are seen.
Identify where riverine vegetation are.
Identify planted vegetations eg crops &
planted forests.
6. SOIL
When describing the types of soil, one has to consider
the following:
Presence of rivers shows that the area
has silt soils.
Presence of tea leaves shows the area has
red volcanic soils.
Presence of swamps shows the area has
clay soils.
Presence of forest shows the area has deep, well
drained and fertile soils.
Presence of scrubs indicates the area has infertile
soils.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.
Some of the economic activities shown on the map include:
Agriculture- shown by crop grown
or livestock rearing.
Fishing- shown by presence of fish
ponds, fish traps, fish landing ground.
NB- Presence of rivers and lakes are not enough evidence to show
fishing. Not all rivers and lakes have fish.
Tourism- shown by presence of pre- historic sites, museums and
national parks.
Lumbering- shown by presnce of saw mills.
Industry- Shown by presence of factories.
Trading activities- Shown by presence of market, transport and
communication networks.
etc
FUNCTIONS OF URBAN CENTRES.
(ECONOMIC FUNCTIONS.
FUNCTIONS EVIDENCES
1. Industrial - Presence of industries, factories,
garages etc
2. Tourism - Presence of Museum, game parks,
picnics etc
3. Mining - Presence of quarry, mines etc
4. Agricultural - Collecting and distributing centres, agri
shows etc
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF AN URBAN CENTRES.
FUNCTION EVIDENCE
S
1. Educational - Presence of school.
2. Sport centre - Presence of stadia.
3. Religious - Presence of churches, mosque.
centre
4. Health centre - Presence of hospitals, dispensaries,
chemistry, phamarcy etc.
MAGNETIC VARIATION
ALSO CALLED MAGNETIC VARIATIONS.
It refers to an angle between
Magnetic North and the True North
expressed in degrees east or west of
the True North.
END
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