Globes and Maps A globe is a true representation or model of the Earth's surface, but, its use has limitations. You can view only one side of the Earth at a time. Usually the size or scale is too small to be useful and large globes are difficult to handle. Maps, however, are much more versatile. Flat maps can be rolled or folded and are, therefore, portable.
Maps are reproducable in large quantities.
When in digital form, they can be displayed on a computer. There are many ways to classify maps, based on different criteria, such as scale, projection, or content. Base Maps depict fundamental information about the Earth's surface such as landforms and drainage. They also symbolize landmark features like roads, railways, populated places and buildings. Many features are also identified by geographical names and labels.