Maharashtra Board Class 5 EVS Part I Chapter 9 Maps our Companions PDF Download

Maps - Our Companions

The land in our environment is not of the same height everywhere. This unevenness gives rise to various land shapes creating different landforms such as mountains, valleys, plateaus, plains and islands. You have studied this in the third chapter.

For a proper understanding of our environment, it is necessary to study the physical or natural set-up of the land.

In Standard IV, when we learnt about maps, we saw a 5000-year-old map. This means that man has felt the need to make maps since ancient times. At that time, maps were mainly used in wars. While fighting a battle, it is important to have detailed knowledge of the terrain. It helps in working out strategies of defeating the enemy. Maps were very useful for this purpose.

Taking into account the differences in their height, shape, etc., various landforms can be shown on a map. There are different methods of showing these landforms on a map. Let us look at these methods.

Can You Tell?

Study the maps shown above. All three maps show the same area, but they look different. Study the maps and answer the following questions.

In map A, how has the height of the land been shown?

Why have colours been used in map B?

How is map C different from the other two maps?

In which direction is the highest point in maps A, B and C?

In which map can the landforms be seen most clearly?

Teacher's Note

Maps help us see where mountains and valleys are in our area. Just like looking at a picture of your village, a map shows you the real shape of the land.

Exam Trick

Remember: Map A uses lines, Map B uses colours, Map C uses real pictures from the sky. Each method shows height in a different way.

Points to Remember

Land has different heights and shapes.
Maps show these landforms in three ways.
Lines, colours, and satellite pictures are used to show height.
Height is measured from sea level.

Try This

You are going to a fort for your school trip. You travel by bus to a certain point and then get off. The fort is on a hill. To reach the fort, you have to cross another hill and also a valley. Show the two hills and the valley in the blank box given on this page. How will you show that the valley is deep and the mountain is high?

Methods Of Showing Elevation Or Height Of Land

The length and width of a landform can be easily shown on a piece of paper. However, the height and depth cannot be shown as easily. There are different methods of showing the elevation or height of the land.

1. Contour line method

2. Layer tinting method

3. Digital elevation model

Contour Line Method

This method is used to show the unevenness of landforms on a map. The height of the land is measured from sea-level. Next, points of the same height are identified. Their position is marked accurately on the map. These locations are joined with a line. Such lines are called contour lines. See map A. In the map, lines are drawn, each joining places of a specific height. This way, the relief of the land can be easily shown. It helps us to understand the slope of the land and the height of different places.

Observe the given diagram. Note that when there is less distance between the contour lines, the slope is steep whereas if the distance is great, the slope is gentle.

Teacher's Note

Contour lines are like circles drawn on a map to show how high the land is. When lines are close together, the hill is steep. When lines are far apart, the hill is gentle like a ramp.

Exam Trick

Remember: Close lines = steep slope. Far lines = gentle slope. Think of it like staircase steps - close steps are hard to climb, far steps are easy.

Points to Remember

Contour lines join places of the same height.
Close contour lines mean the slope is steep.
Far contour lines mean the slope is gentle.
Height is measured from sea level.

Layer Tinting Method

This method is based on contour lines. In this method, the spaces between contour lines are filled with colour. Each colour indicates a specific height. For example, water bodies are coloured blue, whereas the adjoining land is coloured dark green. Land higher than that is coloured a light green, next higher land is coloured yellow, and so on.

Study the given colour index. Note how the colours change with the height. The colours between the contour lines show up the difference in the physical set-up. See map B.

Teacher's Note

In layer tinting, each colour shows a different height. Blue is for water, green for low land, yellow for higher land, and brown for mountains. It is like painting a picture of the land.

Exam Trick

Remember: Layer tinting uses colours like a painting. Each colour = different height. Blue water, green low, yellow high, brown very high. The higher you go, the darker or lighter the colour becomes.

Points to Remember

Layer tinting uses colours to show height.
Each colour shows a different height range.
Blue is for water and low areas.
Brown is for high mountains.
It is based on contour lines.

Digital Elevation Model

This is the most modern method. In this, the information obtained through man-made satellites is presented with the help of computers. See map C. In it, we can directly observe the differences in the height of landforms.

Maps made using the above methods help us to understand the physical set-up of a region. In other words, they give us an idea of its height, relief and slope. Using computers, we can even find the height of each point on a digital map.

Physical maps can be used in military operations, tourism, drawing up mountaineering routes, in making regional development plans, etc.

Teacher's Note

Digital maps use computers and satellites to show the land like a photograph. You can see the exact shape and height of every mountain and valley very clearly, just like looking at a real picture.

Exam Trick

Remember: Digital elevation model = satellite picture + computer. It shows land like a real photograph. Most modern way to show height.

Points to Remember

Digital elevation model uses satellites and computers.
It shows land like a real photograph.
Very clear and accurate.
Shows exact height of each point.
Most modern method of showing landforms.

Use Your Brain Power!

Places of different heights are shown in the above box. Find and join the dots that show places of the same height. What method of showing the landforms on a map have you used here? Write the answer in the box below.

Try This

Make an outline map showing various places in your neighbourhood or school.

Exchange your outline maps with those of your friends.

Make lists of what you understand and do not understand in your friends' maps.

Discuss these things with one another.

Think about why you did not understand some of the things your friends had shown in their maps.

Conventional Signs And Symbols

Many people use maps. Many components are shown in maps or outline maps. If these components are shown on different maps in different ways, it will be difficult to understand them. Therefore, standard signs and symbols are used to make the map easy to read. These symbols and signs are universally used for specific components. That is why, everyone can understand them.

Conventional Signs

Signs are used to show various things on a map as per convention. These are in the form of letters or geometrical shapes, for example, lines, circles, triangles, dots, etc.

Conventional Symbols

Symbols are used to show various things on a map as per convention. Symbols are miniature drawings of the respective objects. For example, temples, mosques, forts, etc.

Teacher's Note

Signs and symbols are like a language that everyone understands. A red cross means hospital, a triangle means a mountain. Just like traffic signals are the same everywhere in India, map symbols are the same in all maps.

Exam Trick

Remember: Signs = letters or shapes (like X for battlefield). Symbols = small pictures (like a temple drawing). Always check the key on the map to understand what each sign and symbol means.

Points to Remember

Signs are letters or shapes.
Symbols are small pictures of real things.
Both help us understand maps easily.
Everyone uses the same signs and symbols.
A key on the map explains all signs and symbols.

Do You Know?

Nowadays, many modern methods of making maps have been developed. Previously, relief was shown using the hill shading technique. The map given below is an example of this.

Do You Know?

The Survey of India is the foremost mapmaking institute in India. It was established in 1767. This institute has made a large number of topographic maps of the Indian subcontinent on various scales by conducting field surveys. These maps are known the world over for their accuracy. The institute's headquarters are in Dehradun in Uttarakhand.

This is a preview of the first 3 pages. To get the complete book, click below.