Maps are used for many purposes. They can show all kinds of information such as populations, historical information, climate, products, and natural features. Harder - A map is a visual representation of a place on a flat surface. There are many types of maps. Political maps show how people have divided up the earth's surface.
Physical maps focus on the land and water formations on the surface of the Earth.
Cultural maps show information about people such as population, education, recreation, and other facts. Because the Earth is round, it's difficult to show a flat version. Projections are based on grids and can show the globe as a map. When creating a projection, mapmakers need to be concerned about area, direction, distance, and shape. There are many types of map projections including conic, interrupted, cylindrical, azimuthal, and oval.