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Geography Grade 10 11 Mapwork Notes

Geography (High School - South Africa)

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Directorate: Curriculum FET

TELEMATICS 2019

Mapwork

GEOGRAPHY
Grade 10 & 11

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Dear Grade 10 and 11 Learner

The Telematics Teaching Project stems from cooperation between the Western Cape
Education Department and the Stellenbosch University.

To be able to have success at the end of the year it will be very important to keep on learning
and applying the prescribed key concepts/processes and process skills in the different
knowledge areas throughout the year. Make sure that you are in a position to analyse and
interpret geography related concepts in newspapers and magazines to the concepts and
content you have discussed in the classroom. In addition, spend at least a few hours per
week studying / reading / making summaries about the four components in the theory section
and attempt to integrate it with the map work section.

This year we concentrate on mapwork. Remember that at the end of Grade 12, ALL mapwork
skills, techniques and calculations will be examined. For that reason, this resource pack
contains both Grade 10 and 11 work. Please consult the table below to see which skills,
techniques and calculations are needed for your specific grade.

SKILL / TECHNIQUE / GRADE

CALCULATION / TOPIC 10 11 12
1 Contours and slopes ✓ ✓ ✓
2 Map Symbols / key ✓ ✓ ✓
3 Grid reference / location ✓ ✓ ✓
4 Map reference ✓ ✓ ✓
5 Scale ✓ ✓ ✓
6 Representation of height ✓ ✓ ✓
7 Direction/bearing ✓ ✓ ✓
8 Inter visibility ✓ ✓
9 Landforms ✓ ✓ ✓
10 Direction of river flow ✓ ✓ ✓
11 Distance ✓ ✓ ✓
12 Gradient ✓ ✓
13 Area ✓ ✓
14 Magnetic declination ✓
15 Magnetic bearing ✓ ✓
16 Vertical exaggeration ✓ ✓
17 Cross sections Simple ✓ ✓
18 Aerial- & ortophotos ✓ ✓ ✓
19 Map-photo interpretation ✓ ✓ ✓
20 GIS ✓ ✓ ✓

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GEOGRAPHICAL MAPWORK SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

1 CONTOURS AND SLOPES
• Contour lines join places with the same height above sea level.
• Contours far apart show a gentle slope.
• Contours close together show a steep slope

1.1 Concave slope

1.2 Convex slope

1.3 Terraced slope

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2 MAP SKILLS

2.1 SYMBOLS USED ON TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS

2.2 DIRECTION AND BEARING

Direction: The relative position of one place from another using the points of a
compass.

Bearing: A direction given as an angle measured from North (0⁰) in a clockwise

direction.

The relationship between bearings and the points of the compass

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2.3 HOW HEIGHT IS INDICATED ON TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS

Name the four ways in which height is indicated on a topographic map.

• Contour lines

• Trigonometrical
station

• Bench marks

• Spot heights

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2.4 MAP REFERENCE

2.5 LOCATION IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND SECONDS

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2.6 INTERVISIBILITY

2.7 DIRECTION OF RIVER FLOW

The following methods can be employed in determining the direction of river flow.

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3 CALCULATIONS

3.1 DISTANCE

FORMULA: Distance = Map distance x Scale

100 000

Calculate the length of the national road from the station to the
windpump.

STEP 1 Distance = 4,8cm

Measure distance on map
in cm

STEP 2 Distance = Map distance x Scale

Place in Formula 100 000

= 4,8 x 50 000
100 000

= 4,8
2
STEP 3
= 2,4 km
Answer in km

NB Remember to use a scale of 1:10 000 when

doing all calculations on an Ortophoto map.
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3.2 AREA

FORMULA: AREA = Length x Breadth

Calculate the area of Block X on the topographic map.

3cm X

5cm

STEP 1
Calculate length of block
Length = 5 cm x 50 000
in cm 100 000

= 2,5 km

STEP 2
Calculate breadth of block Breadth = 3 cm x 50 000
in cm 100 000

= 1,5 km

STEP 3
Place in Formula Area = lxb

= 2,5 x 1,5

STEP 4
Answer in km²
= 3,75 km²

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3.3 GRADIENT

FORMULA: Gradient = Height (vertical)

Distance (Horizontal)

Calculate the gradient from the trig beacon 72 to the spot height 460

STEP 1
Calculate difference in height
460 – 340 = 120m

STEP 2 Distance = Map distance x Scale

Calculate distance
100 000

= 4,8cm x 50 000
100 000

= 2,4 km
STEP 2
Convert to METERS = 2 400m

STEP 4 Gradient = Height

Place in formula and Distance
SIMPLIFY
= 120m
2 400m

= 1
20
STEP 5
Answer as a ratio = 1:20
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3.4 MAGNETIC DECLINATION AND MAGNETIC BEARING

Magnetic declination is the difference between true North and

magnetic North (on compas).

Mag N True N
NB The following when you work with Magnetic Declination
1. What is the mean mag. declination (in degrees & minutes?
2. In which direction is the magnetic declination?
W E 3. In which year is the magnetic declination given?
e a 4. What is the mean annual change?
s s 5. In what direction is the average yearly change?
t t 6. For what year must the mag. declination be calculated?

South

Mean magnetic declination 23° 53’ West of true north (Julie 2002).
Mean annual change 6’ Westwards.

Calculate magnetic declination for 2009.

STEP 1 2009 – 2002

Calculate difference in years = 7 years

STEP 2 6’ x 7 years
Calculate total change
= 42’ West

STEP 3 23° 53’ + STEP 3 NB: FOR SOUTH AFRICA

Add or subtract from
magnetic declination
42’ If the chabge is towards the WEST, it
is ADDED.
23° 95’ If the change is towards the EAST it, is
SUBTRACTED

STEP 4
Remember: Minutes cannot = 24° 35’ West
be more than 60 !
MAGNETIC BEARING
Magnetic bearing is calculated
by simply adding the bearing

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3.5 VERTICAL EXAGGERATION

FORMULA: V E = VERTICALE SCALE

HORIZONTAL SCALE

Calculate the vertical exaggeration of the following

4mm = 20m
STEP 1
Convert VS to
4mm = 20 000mm (same units)
ratio scale 4 : 20 000
1 : 5 000

STAP 2
VV = VERTICAL SCALE
Place in HORIZONTAL SCALE
formula

= 1 ÷ 1
5 000 50 000

= 1 X 50 000
5 000 1

= 10 Times

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4 READ AND INTERPRETATION OF MAPS AND ORTOPHOTOS

Get a mental image of the map BEFORE reading and interpreting the map. Look at
the following:

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The goal of this guide is to empower you with regard to the answer of interpretation
questions in mapwork. Remember that there is a large amount of information on the
topographical- and ortophoto map. To answer these questions successfully, you must
know what to look at to get to the answer.

Remember that this is not a memorandum which has been given with the questions,
but an attempt to show what you should look at to get to the answers. It is
important to take note that ALL content, modules and skills can be assessed in the
mapwork paper. Use this guide to study and prepare yourself for the mapwork
question paper (Paper 2).

CLIMATOLOGY

1 Does the area receive seasonal rainfall or rainfall throughout the year?
Seasonal: Non-perennial rivers/ dams/ cultivated lands near rivers/ irrigation/ furrows

2 Which slope is warmer? GRADE 10 ONLY

The northward-facing slope – identify the northward-facing slope

3 In which direction will an airplane take off and land?

(Remember that airplanes take off and land against the wind.)

GEOMORPHOLOGY

1 Physical aspects influencing the construction of railways and roads.

Mountains/ steep slopes/ marshes/ rivers/

2 In which direction does the river flow?

-To the sea
-Always from high to low
-Contours bend upstream
-Dam wall on downstream side
-Tributaries join at acute angles

4 Identify the landforms regarding structural landscapes: GRADE 11 ONLY

-Horizontal layers: Mesas/ buttes/ conical hills
-Inclined layers: dip and escarp slopes
-Massive igneous rocks: dome-shaped landforms

5 In which direction do the layers dip? GRADE 11 ONLY

Layers always dip in the direction of the GRADUAL slope

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SUSTAINABILITY

1 Evidence of nature conservation

Nature reserve/ hiking trail/ fire break/ game reserve

2 Evidence of conservational farming.

Anti-erosion walls/ camps/ rows of trees to reduce wind/ contour ploughing

3 Are there sources of air pollution in the area??

-Air pollution: Industries
-Noise pollution: Airport
-Water pollution: Factories / camping sites/ Power station near river

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

(a) PRIMARY ACTIVITIES (FARMING / MINING)

1 Commercial or subsistence farming?

Commercial: Good infrastructure/ irrigation/ large farms/ farm names/ cellar/ dipping
tank/ experimental farm/ estate/ sugar mill/ service rail/ abattoir/ dairy
Subsistence: Few roads/ footpaths/ no power lines/ small patches of cultivated land

2 Describe factors that advantage/disadvantage farming activities

Advantage: Rivers/ dams/ flat land/ power lines/ railway lines
Disadvantage: Steep slopes/ water scarce/ marshes

3 Identify mining activities

Excavations/ mine dump/ conveyer belt/ terraces/ names of mines/ old mines/
subsiding ground

4 Identifying of fishing activities

Fishing harbours / fishermen’s houses/ factories near coast

5 Identifying of forestry
Trees/ woodlands/ saw mill/ lookout towers/ fire break/ state forest

(b) SECONDARY ACTIVITIES (INDUSTRIES)

1 Describe the factors that influenced the location of the industries

Flat surface/ raw material/ Transport(name the types)/ power (power station, power
lines, coal mines)/ water/ labour(residential areas)/ Market/ outskirts/

2 Heavy or light industries?

Heavy: Far from CBD/ railway transport/ Raw material-mining/ large spaces/
Light: close to CBD / road transport/ raw material - farming

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(c) TERTIARY ACTIVITIES (SERVICES)

1 Tourist attractions, holiday resorts, camping sites

Close to beaches/ close to road railway/ wine tasting/ historical buildings/ monuments/
museums

2 Types of services found

Electricity supply/ telephone/ medical/ pot office/ education(school/ college/ university)
transport (roads airport railway)/ police services etc. (buildings on map)

3 Recreation facilities?
Golf course/ athletics/ rifle range/ racing track/ etc

4 Factors that determined the location of the airport

Flat area/ far from built-up area for safety/ noise/ roads/

5 Does the railway line and the road follow the same routs? Why not?
The same? NB influence of topography
Road: through mountain pass. Railway around mountain (between Paarl and
Worcester)

6 For what is the dam on the map used? Give reasons

Drinking water: Water purification works
Irrigation: cannels and furrows
Recreation: Yacht club, Hotels at dam, camping site, caravan park, slipway, etc.

SETTLEMENT

1 Why is the settlement located there?

Flat area/ roads/ river/ mountain/ sea/ etc

2 Is it an urban or a rural settlement?

Rural: Primary activities
Urban: Secondary and Tertiary activities

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