Question

what describes to the reader what the map is about​

Answer 1

A map is a symbolic depiction emphasizing relationships between elements of ... Portolan charts, for example, are oriented to the shores they describe. A symbol is an abstraction or pictorial representation of something else. Symbols on a map consist of discrete points, lines, or shaded areas; they have size, form, and (usually) color. Map symbols present information collectively, leading to appreciation of form, relative position, distribution, and structure.

Answer 2

First of all the type:

• Physical Maps/ Relief Maps: Maps showing natural features of the earth such as mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, oceans etc.
• Political Maps: Maps showing countries, states etc. with boundaries
• Thematic Maps: Maps focusing on some specific information such as road

Then reader should pay attention whether that map is:

• Sketch: Drawing mainly based on memory and spot observation and not to scale
• Plan: Drawn to scale

Components of Maps:

1. Distance:

• Scale: Ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map
• Small scale map: E.g., World map
• Large scale map: E.g., Gujarat map
• Large scale maps give more information than small scale maps

2. Direction:

• Cardinal points: Main directions

3. Symbol:

• Universal language, International agreement regarding the use of these symbols, called conventional symbols
• Various colours are used some times, for example, brown for mountain, yellow for plateau and green for plains