The scale of a map is the ratio of a distance on the map to the corresponding distance on the ground. Scale is what makes map drawing possible. It takes real life things and reduces them in size many times so they can be shown on a map.
Every map has a scale printed on the front and you should always check this figure before you start reading it. It will tell you how much smaller the area shown on the map is compared to the same area in real life.
A carthographer (the map maker) reduces the scale, he leaves out more and more details.
Carthographers produce different maps for different uses and with different scales.
Map scale 1 : 1250 - (This map scale is ideal for architects).
This means that every one unit of measurement on the map (like a centimetre) is the same as 1250 of those units (in this case 1250 cm or 12,5 metres) in real life.
Map scale 1 : 10,000 - (Ideal for town developers).
This means that every one unit of measurement on the map (like a centimetre) is the same as 10,000 of those units (in this case 100 metres) in real life.
Map scale 1 : 20,000
This means that every one unit of measurement on the map (like a centimetre) is the same as 20,000 of those units (in this case 200 metres) in real life.
Map scale 1 : 25,000 - (This map covers a small sized area. This unit of measurement is useful for surveying, so these maps are generally made for outdoor activities).
This means that every one unit of measurement on the map (like a centimetre) is the same as 25,000 of those units (in this case 250 metres) in real life.
Map scale 1 : 50,000 - (These maps cover a moderately sized area like a national park. So these maps could be used for planning a day out).
This means that every one unit of measurement on the map (like a centimetre) is the same as 50,000 of those units (in this case 500 metres) in real life.
Map scale 1 : 200,000 - (This map covers a large area and is useful for long-range exploration. For example for motorists, and long journeys).
This means that every one unit of measurement on the map (like a centimetre) is the same as 200,000 of those units (in this case 2 kilometres) in real life.
Map scale 1 : 500,000 - (Ideal for seeing the whole country at a glance).
This means that every one unit of measurement on the map (like a centimetre) is the same as 500,000 of those units (in this case 5 kilometres) in real life.
