A topographic map is one that depicts "detailed and accurate graphic representation of cultural and natural features on the ground," according to the Canadian Centre for Topographic Information. Common topographical maps feature roads, highways, hiking trails, buildings, bodies of water, administrative boundaries and/or landforms. In a topographical map meant to illustrate the varying elevations of a region, neutral colors may be used to demonstrate the highest elevations. For example, one popular color scheme illustrates low or nonexistent elevations in dark green, followed by shades of yellow, browns and grays with increased elevation. On this type of cartographic map, white illustrates the highest elevation.
Thematic maps are used to emphasis a particular theme on a regional or world map. This theme can be political, cultural, economic, sociological, agricultural or an altogether different variation. The information found on thematic maps is usually highly specialized. For example, a thematic map illustrating world illiteracy shows regions with the lowest percentages of this phenomenon in yellow, gradually increasing with olive, brown and dark green for the highest rates. Here, areas with no data are de-emphasized with the color gray.
Climate maps are maps meant to illustrate weather patterns and phenomenon . A world climate map will illustrate climate variations by showing areas deemed to be tropical, dry, warm, cold and polar climates. In these maps, the neutral color of gray can be used for de-emphasizing oceans or to illustrate polar climates with white.
Political maps are used to illustrate state and national boundaries. They show capitals and other major cities and may demonstrate types of government. In one type of political map, a country map be emphasized by a color such as yellow or green, with the surrounding border nations de-emphasized in a neutral gray. One example of this is a map of the United States which illustrates the boundaries of each state. States are highlighted in alternating colors while border nations Canada and Mexico are de-emphasized with gray.
Resource maps are used to show the allocation of resources and scarcities in the world. With resource maps, neutral colors can illustrate areas where no data exists, where no resources exist or where few resources exist. In a map showing the distribution of freshwater in the world, gray indicates areas where no data exists.
