MAP SCALE
The scale of a map is defined as the quotient of the horizontal distance between two points on the map and the same two points on the ground.
The larger the denominator, the smaller the scale. For example, maps at a scale of 1:25 000 are detailed whereas those at 1:250 000 are small scale maps.
The larger the scale of a map, the smaller the spatial variability of the map units represented (greater degree of purity): large scale maps are therefore more interesting for making predictions and appropriately assigning land uses.
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