Topographic maps, also known as topo maps, are designed to show the areas topography, including natural and artificial features. They display the Earth's surface features with contour lines and are used to show the elevation of a location. Created with Datawrapper, they are used to display various kinds of data and themes with graphics, colors, and themes.
Thematic maps are a type of map that typically center around a central theme or subject. An example of a thematic map is a percentage of a population or the intensity of GDPs. Choropleth maps, a type of thematic map, use color variations to express variations within a certain theme. Isoline maps, symbol maps, and flow line maps are also types of thematic maps used to represent different sets of data.
Political maps are designed to show human-made elements on a map. They display towns, cities, states, countries, roads, and other political boundaries. These maps also show borders between different countries, states, and cities. Political maps are commonly seen as world or United States maps.
A physical map shows physical features such as mountains, rivers, plains, deserts, and seas, whereas a political map shows human features. It displays towns, cities, states, countries, and roads. The key difference is that physical maps reflect natural features, while political maps reflect human-made elements.
Mental maps are the most common type of map used in everyday life. They reflect a person's understanding and knowledge of their geographic area and how they navigate it based on these perceptions. These maps reflect how a person understands their environment and navigate it based on their perceptions.