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WELCOME

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TO GEOGRAPHY CLASS.

MAPWORK

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PAPER ONE WORK (312/1)

QUESTION 6

COMMON MARGINAL INFORMATION ON TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS.

• Scales- There are two scales on the map; ratio scale 1:50,000 at upper margin and linear scale in lower margin.
• Sheet name- written at the upper margin on bold letters.

Eg…Nkubu map, Kirinyaga, Migwani etc

• Sheet title- Written at the top margin connected with the scale. Eg.. EAST AFRICA 1;50,000.
• Scales- Shown on the lower margin. Not everything shown in the key are on the map.
• Latitudinal extend- Shown on the left and right hand margins. It shows the extend in terms of North and South.

Eg..0ᵒ 10′ S -0ᵒ15′S etc

• Longitudinal extend- Shows on the upper and lower margins. It shows how the land extends eastwards or westwards..

Eg .. 0ᵒ 15′ E -0ᵒ35′E

ENTERPRETATION OF TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS.

• Study the map extract first before looking at the key.
• Avoid using terms like, left, right, bottom , centre or top of the map when giving location of a place instead use compass directions ie. East,West, north or south.
• One evidence in the map should not give conclusive description.
• If a represented place by the map has a name, use that name in your description.
• use the words that suggests possibilities in order to leave room for other possibilities eg..The presence of seasonal rivers on the map is likely indication of seasonal rainfall in the area.

INTERPRETATIONS OF PHYSICAL FEATURES ON TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS.

1. DRAINAGE
2. RELIEF
3. DISTRIBUTION OF SETTLEMENT
4. CLIMATE
5. VEGETATION
6. SOIL

1. DRAINAGE

Points to consider when describing drainage.

• Identify the available swamps by their names. Eg..There is Lorian swamps to the East
• Indicate the general flow of rivers. Eg..River Siwo flow from north East to the west.
• Identify the main river in the region…eg River Tana is the main river.
• Identify the permanent rivers on the map. Eg..The permanent rivers in Nkubu are…….

• Show the patterns formed by the rivers. Eg…Most rivers in Nkubu forms tendritic pattern.
• Indicate any lake available and perhaps its location. Use four grid reference.
• Show the stages of a river is possible.

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NB. ALL RIVERS START FROM:

• Areas with highest contour value to the lowest.
• The forest or mountain areas.
• Swampy regions. (confirm this by checking contour values.)

2. RELIEF.

WHEN INTERPRETING RELIEF, CHECK ON:

• Hills available giving their names and location.
• The highest point with evidence (Contours or trigonometric stations & spot heights)
• General trends of the land( use contours) eg …The land slant to the south.
• Indicate the location of escarpment as indicated by very close contours.
• Gentle slopes as indicated by spaced contours.
• Flat lands indicated by presence of swamps.

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3. DISTRIBUTION OF SETTLEMENT.

FACTORS INFLUENCING SETTLEMENT IN A GIVEN AREA.

Consider factors that encourages and discourages settlement.

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Factors discouraging settlement in a given area.

• Swampy areas- Forms breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
• Forests- Gazetted areas can’t be inhabited. Also

areas with dangerous animals are avoided.

• Steep slopes- Discourages farming activities.
• Game parks- People tend to live far away from parks

due to attacks by animals eg leopards,

hyenas and lions.

• Land plantations- People are evacuated to create

large land for farming.

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NB..USE INFORMATION ON THE MAP TO EXPLAIN.

Factors encouraging settlement distribution on the are.

• Roads- people live near roads for

effective transportations.

• Gentle slopes- Aid in farming

activities especially in use of machines.

• Rivers- Provides water for domestic and industrial use.
• Market centres- For effective commercial activities

eg trading.

• Police posts- People live near police stations for

security purposes.

HOW TO DESCRIBE SETTLEMENT

• USE TERMINOLOGIES LIKE;
• There is dense settlement on…..
• There is sparse settlement on….
• There is cluster settlement on….

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NB- Avoid using the term population..eg

There is high population on…

SETTLEMENT PATTERN

• Dense settlement- Shown by presence of close settlement units(houses)
• Sparse settlement- Shown by presence of settlement units which are spread.
• Linear settlement- Shown by settlement units placed in a line eg …Along the roads, rivers, electric lines and plantation hedges

4. CLIMATE

Consider the following factors when describing climate:

1. crops grown
1. tea leaves- Indicates well distributed rainfall (cool and wet).
2. Sisals- indicates hot and dry climate

b. Vegetation

• forests- indicates high rainfall.
• Scrubs- indicates low rainfall.

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c. Contours

• Contours above 1800m indicates low temperatures
• contours about 600m and below indicates high temperatures.

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5. VEGETATION

When describing vegetations, check the following:

• Identify the forests by the name or direction.
• locate the scrubs by using direction.
• Identify bamboo vegetation by using direction
• Locate papyrus vegetation if any.
• Locate where grasses are seen.
• Identify where riverine vegetation are.
• Identify planted vegetations eg crops &

planted forests.

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6. SOIL

When describing the types of soil, one has to consider the following:

• Presence of rivers shows that the area

has silt soils.

• Presence of tea leaves shows the area has

red volcanic soils.

• Presence of swamps shows the area has

clay soils.

• Presence of forest shows the area has deep, well drained and fertile soils.
• Presence of scrubs indicates the area has infertile soils.

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ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.

Some of the economic activities shown on the map include:

• Agriculture- shown by crop grown

or livestock rearing.

• Fishing- shown by presence of fish

ponds, fish traps, fish landing ground.

NB- Presence of rivers and lakes are not enough evidence to show fishing. Not all rivers and lakes have fish.

• Tourism- shown by presence of pre- historic sites, museums and national parks.
• Lumbering- shown by presnce of saw mills.
• Industry- Shown by presence of factories.
• Trading activities- Shown by presence of market, transport and communication networks.

etc

FUNCTIONS OF URBAN CENTRES.�(ECONOMIC FUNCTIONS.

SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF AN URBAN CENTRES.

MAGNETIC VARIATION

ALSO CALLED MAGNETIC VARIATIONS.

• It refers to an angle between Magnetic North and the True North expressed in degrees east or west of the True North.

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