Types of Maps to Know for AP Human Geography
Topographic
● Topographic maps are maps used to show the natural and man-made features in an
area including the elevation in detail. They use contour lines to depict elevation. That
can show mountains, valleys, plains, lakes, rivers, etc, while also including man-made
details, like roads, boundaries, and buildings. They can be used to understand landforms
si that it would be easier to plan mines, roads, cell towers, or dams.
Thematic
● Thematic maps are different than topographic maps. They are used to show data such
as population, ethnicity, temperature, or economic patterns. This information can be
shown using color, dots, and shapes.
Chrolopleth
● Chloroplast maps are a type of thematic map that uses color to show information. For
example the color green could be used to show population densities, while shades of the
color green could be used to show places with high or low population densities.
Isoline
● Isoline Maps use lines or “countor lines” to show information. This can commonly be
seen with graphs displaying weather. Squiggly lines can be used to show places with
similar weather patterns.
Dot Density
● Dot density maps are maps that show information with dots. For example if there was a
map showing where there is high population density, that area would have more dots.
Meanwhile the places with low population density would have few scattered around dots.
Each dot would be representing a certain number of people.
Flow Line
● Flow Line maps show the movement of things from one place to another using arrows.
Thicker arrows would represent more movers while thinner arrows would represent less
movers. These arrows can also show where and to these things are going based on the
shape.
Topographic
● Topographic maps are maps used to show the natural and man-made features in an
area including the elevation in detail. They use contour lines to depict elevation. That
can show mountains, valleys, plains, lakes, rivers, etc, while also including man-made
details, like roads, boundaries, and buildings. They can be used to understand landforms
si that it would be easier to plan mines, roads, cell towers, or dams.
Thematic
● Thematic maps are different than topographic maps. They are used to show data such
as population, ethnicity, temperature, or economic patterns. This information can be
shown using color, dots, and shapes.
Chrolopleth
● Chloroplast maps are a type of thematic map that uses color to show information. For
example the color green could be used to show population densities, while shades of the
color green could be used to show places with high or low population densities.
Isoline
● Isoline Maps use lines or “countor lines” to show information. This can commonly be
seen with graphs displaying weather. Squiggly lines can be used to show places with
similar weather patterns.
Dot Density
● Dot density maps are maps that show information with dots. For example if there was a
map showing where there is high population density, that area would have more dots.
Meanwhile the places with low population density would have few scattered around dots.
Each dot would be representing a certain number of people.
Flow Line
● Flow Line maps show the movement of things from one place to another using arrows.
Thicker arrows would represent more movers while thinner arrows would represent less
movers. These arrows can also show where and to these things are going based on the
shape.
