A globe is a three-dimensional sphere while a map is two-dimensional. The globe represents the whole earth, whereas a map may represent the whole earth or just a part of it. A globe can be used to get a broad-level picture of the world while maps provide more specific information about different places.

Political maps are designed to show governmental boundaries of countries, states, and counties, the location of major cities, and they usually include significant bodies of water.

Reference maps show the location of geographic boundaries, physical features of Earth, or cultural features such as places, cities, and roads. Political maps, physical maps, road maps, topographic maps, time zone maps, geologic maps, and zip code maps are all examples of reference maps.

Maps present information about the world in a simple, visual way. They teach about the world by showing sizes and shapes of countries, locations of features, and distances between places. Maps can show distributions of things over Earth, such as settlement patterns.

Terms in this set (4)

• globe advantages. more accurate earth’s surface, shape of continents, and their relative position. No distortion.
• Globe disadvantages. No detailed info.
• Map advantages. produced at any scale, more detailed info.
• map disadvantages. distort shape and size of landforms.

Maps can be folded up and used for planning trips. Maps can show very large areas or very small areas. Also, maps are flexible tools that can provide large amounts of information very efficiently. Maps are not as accurate as globes, however.

Types of Maps

• General Reference.
• Thematic Maps.
• Topographic Maps.
• Cadastral Maps and Plans.
• Navigation Charts.
• Series Maps.