Position (location)
A map gives the location or position of places or features. The positions are usually given by the co-ordinates of the place, either as the cartesian co-ordinates (x,y) in metres or as geographical co-ordinates (latitude and longitude) in degrees, minutes and seconds. The co-ordinates can be measured using the co-ordinate grid shown at set intervals along the borders of the map. The map user can, for example, find out that the position of Cape Town is 33º56' South latitude, 18º25' East longitude.
Spatial relationships
A map gives us the spatial relationship between features. For example: What province is the neighbour of another province? Which side of the road is the river on? Is there a dam on the farm? Where is the nearest railway station?
Distance, Direction, Area
We can determine a lot of information from a map such as distances, directions and areas. We can measure the distance from Johannesburg to Durban, determine that Pretoria is to the north of Johannesburg, or calculate the size of the Gauteng province. In determining distances and areas the scale of the map has to be taken into consideration.
Directions are based on true north, but if you are using a magnetic compass then it must be remembered that the compass needle points to magnetic north, which is different from true north. The difference between magnetic north and true north is called the magnetic declination.
Different types of maps
Being a representation of the real world on a limited size of paper means that a map is restricted as to what can be shown. The map maker (cartographer) has to select what to show and what to leave off. The map maker is guided by what the main purpose of the map is, such as a road map, a topographical map or a thematic map. A road map emphasises the roads and towns but little else, while a topographic map, also called a general map, shows as much of the landscape, elevations, roads, towns etc as possible. A thematic map is designed to depict a specific theme such as the population of various magisterial districts, the occurence of crime in different districts, or annual rainfall.
