Maps are very helpful for showing the differences between natural things and things made by people. The colors and symbols on maps make it easier for everyone to understand the information.

Natural Features
Natural features include things like forests, rivers, and mountains. These are shown on maps with colors like green, blue, and brown. Here’s what each color means:

• Green: This color shows areas with plants, like forests and parks.
• Blue: This color represents water bodies like lakes and rivers. Water is really important for nature.
• Brown: This color indicates changes in land height, like hills and mountains, showing what the land looks like.

Human-Made Features
Human-made features are shown with brighter colors so we can easily tell them apart from natural features. Here are some common colors:

• Red: This color is often used for roads, highways, and railways, which are important for travel.
• Yellow: This color shows where cities and towns are located.
• Black: This color represents boundaries like property lines and country borders, showing how people organize land.

The use of these colors helps map readers quickly see how nature and human-made parts work together.

Also, map legends explain what the different symbols and colors mean. This makes it easier to understand the map. This is especially important for Year 9 geography students because it helps them learn how to read maps properly. Understanding maps helps them appreciate how geography affects their lives and the world around them.

In summary, the colors on maps are really important for finding our way through the world. They help us see how nature and human activities are connected.