Geography & History Notes | KCSE, NECTA, ZIMSEC & GCSE

  Since maps represent large areas, they cannot be drawn the same size as the real area on the ground. Maps are drawn small in comparison, but they still give us the actual area they cover on the ground and the same distance between places. In order to do this, a map uses a scale. Accurate maps are therefore, normally drawn to scale. A scale is relationship between map distance and actual ground distance. For example, 1 centimeter distance measured on the map represents 1 kilometer distance measured on the ground. So when you measure 1 centimeter on the map, the actual distance on the ground represented will be 1 kilometer.  The following are types of map scale representation The statement scale;  The statement scale is when you make a statement saying what the distance on the map represents on the ground. You may say 1 centimeter measured on the map represents 1 kilometer measured on the ground or 1 centimeter to 1 kilometer. Notice that the statements mention two distan...

  Statement scale is the type of map scale expression in which scale is expressed in form of a written statement, for example, one centimeter on the map represents ten kilometers on the ground. This can also be expressed in short as 1cm represent 10km or 1cm to 10km. The following are features of statement scale; The scale is expressed as a word statement.  The scales bear specific units of measurement. The unit of measurement used in the map is smaller than the actual measurements on the ground, for example, 1cm represents 10km   The word ''represent'' should be used. do not use ''equivalent'' or ''equal''. For example, do not say one centimeter on the map is equal to ten kilometers on the ground. This is because the statement is not true. instead, say one centimeter on the map represents ten kilometers on the ground. The map distance always carries the digit 1 while that of the ground may be less than 1, 1, or more than one. A stateme...

  A chain survey is a simple land survey that deals with measuring and recording a series of linear distances on the ground by using a chain or a tape measure. The chain survey is the simplest method of surveying . In this survey, only measurements are taken in the field, and the rest work, such as plotting calculation, etc. are done in the office. This is most suitable adapted to small plane areas with very few details. If carefully done, it gives quite accurate results. The necessary requirements for field work are chain, tape, ranging rod, arrows, and sometimes cross-staff. The following are disadvantages of simple chain survey: A simple chain survey can not be conducted in built-up areas and large areas. A simple chain survey is subject to several chances of errors of accumulation which may be caused by the problem of the chain. The chain linkage may fail to stretch up properly and result in inaccurate data . Also clogging of the chain may read to an error in reading. It is ti...

  Ground level or horizontal photographs are as the name suggests, taken from the ground-level perspective. The ground photograph is taken when a camera is held level to the ground. When a ground photograph is taken the axis of the camera is placed horizontally toward the object. The ground photograph is the most common type of photography which we take with our smartphone and is commonly used to store important memories and for getting beautiful photos to post to Instagram and Facebook. The ground-level photograph has a lot of advantages and uses. Some of the advantages include it is cheap to produce, shows the landscape in great detail, and is the most common type of photography. However, ground photographs have a number of disadvantages or limitations such as they are selective, they can not be used in map making, middle and background items may be blocked and they cover small area as compared to other types of photograph  Disadvantages of ground-level photograph difficul...

A cross-section is a profile of the area under discussion. It is a diagram showing change in height along a line drawn between 2 points on a map. In an exam, the vertical scale will always be indicated – you must not change it. e.g. 1 cm represent 50 metres on the Y axis (vertical axis) Remember: the Horizontal Scale remains 1:50 000 (this will be map scale) Procedure for drawing cross-sections BEFORE starting, study the area of the cross-section to the general shape or lie of the land, that is always have an idea of the shape BEFORE you begin plotting heights or drawing the section.  Join the 2 points, making sure the FROM point is on the left.  On a “magic” piece of paper, delimit the cross-section on the map and match it to the “given” graph. Mark off the right hand extreme on the graph and draw a vertical line to delimit it.  On the map, place the piece of paper, and (holding it steady) mark off EVERY contour that cuts it, ACCURATELY numbering each mark vertically. ...

 HERE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN GROUND-LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHS AND OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHS They can both be divided into the foreground, middle, and background during interpretation, unlike the vertical photographs. The scale of both ground and oblique photographs tend to diminish toward the background They are both simple to understand and use In both ground-level photographs and oblique photographs, the objects on the foreground tend to obscure those in the middle and background The size of objects in both ground level and oblique photographs tend to decrease in size from the foreground to the background They are both useful in land use planning and construction activities RELATED POSTS 9 CONDITIONS FAVOURING IRRIGATION FARMING IN EGYPT 5 CAUSES OF RURAL-RURAL MIGRATION IN KENYA 10 AIMS OF KILOMBERO VALLEY IRRIGATION SCHEME 4 FEATURES OF MAP STATEMENT SCALE 10 ADVANTAGES OF OIL PRODUCTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST 7 DISADVANTAGES OF AIR TRANSPORT 10 PROBLEMS FACING COFFEE FARMING IN KENYA IMPAC...