Maps of the World

Because a map conveys information visually, it is often the best way for presenting facts about the size, shape, and appearance of our world and about the changes that people have imposed on the world. Some world maps show the mountains, rivers, oceans, and plains that make up the face of the Earth. Some show only the boundaries that divide our world into nations. Others show the Earth's resources, population centers, or earthquake activity. Some combine many kinds of information.