Physical and Political Maps

Physical Maps: Reading the Natural World#

When you look at Earth from space, you see mountains, rivers, deserts, and oceans. A physical map shows these natural features of Earth's surface. Physical maps help us understand the land itself — its shape, height, and natural characteristics.

What Do Physical Maps Show?#

Terrain and Elevation:

• Mountains and mountain ranges
• Valleys and plains
• Plateaus (flat, elevated areas)
• Canyons and cliffs

Water Features:

• Oceans, seas, and lakes
• Rivers and streams
• Bays, gulfs, and inlets
• Swamps and wetlands

Landform Types:

• Islands and peninsulas
• Deserts
• Forests and grasslands

How Colors Work on Physical Maps#

Physical maps use color to show elevation (height above sea level):

• Dark or bright green — low-lying areas (near sea level), like coastal plains
• Yellow and light brown — slightly higher elevations, like plateaus and hills
• Orange and dark brown — higher elevations, hills and lower mountains
• Red-brown or white — highest elevations, mountain peaks and glaciers
• Blue — water (oceans, lakes, rivers)

The darker the brown or the lighter the brown-to-white, the higher the terrain!

Contour Lines#

Some physical maps (called topographic maps) show elevation using contour lines — lines connecting all points at the same height. When contour lines are:

• Far apart → gently sloping terrain
• Close together → steep terrain

Reading a Physical Map#

When you look at a physical map of South America, you can immediately see:

• The Andes Mountains running along the western coast (shown in dark brown)
• The Amazon Basin in the interior (green, low-lying)
• The wide plains (Pampas) in the south (yellow)
• The major rivers flowing from the Andes to the Atlantic