Physical and political maps serve different purposes and convey different types of information:
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Physical Maps:
- Focus: Physical maps primarily depict natural features of the Earth’s surface, such as mountains, rivers, valleys, plains, and lakes.
- Features: They often use color gradients to show elevation, shading to indicate topography, and symbols to represent various physical characteristics. For example, green may indicate lower elevations (like plains), while brown may indicate higher elevations (like mountains).
- Purpose: Physical maps are used to understand the geography of a region, including its landforms, climate, and natural resources. They are valuable for activities like hiking, geology, and environmental science.
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Political Maps:
- Focus: Political maps show human-created boundaries, such as countries, states, cities, and other administrative divisions.
- Features: These maps use different colors to distinguish between different countries or regions and often include labels for major cities, borders, and sometimes even transportation routes.
- Purpose: Political maps are essential for understanding political boundaries, governance, and demography. They are used in contexts such as education, international relations, and political analysis.
In summary, while physical maps emphasize the Earth's natural features, political maps focus on human-defined regions and governance structures.
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