How to read a map

Every map has a story to tell, but first you have to know how to read a map.
Maps are useful for finding special places because every place on Earth has a special address called its absolute location. Imaginary lines, called latitude and longitude, create a grid that makes finding places easy because every spot on earth has a unique longitude and latitude. In addtion, special tools called Global Positioning System(GPS),communicate with orbiting satellites to determine absolute location.
Maps represent other information by using a language of symbols. Knowing how to read these symbols provides access to a wide range of information