OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Most maps have a compass rose. It is a small picture shaped like a star with the letters N, S, E, and W. These stand for north, south, east, and west. The compass rose helps you know which direction is which on the map.

Maps also have a map key, which is sometimes called a legend. The map key is a little box that explains what the symbols on the map mean. A blue line might mean a river. A small square might mean a building. A green area might mean a park.

Some maps have a scale. The scale tells you how far apart things really are. On a map, two places might look close together, but the scale shows they are actually miles apart.

When you look at a map of your school, you can find your classroom, the playground, and the lunchroom. A map of your neighborhood can show you the way to a friend’s house or to the library.

• The oldest known map is a clay tablet from Babylon that is about 4,300 years old.
• Google Maps has mapped over 220 countries and territories.
• The word “cartographer” comes from the Greek words for “map” and “writing.”