Map scale refers to the relationship between distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. It is usually represented as a ratio such as 1:10000 where 1 unit on the map equals 10,000 units on the ground.
Map scale is like a zoom feature on your camera. If you're zoomed out (small scale), you can see a lot of area but not much detail. If you're zoomed in (large scale), you see less area but more detail, just like when you zoom into a picture to see someone's facial expression better.
Large Scale: A map scale that shows a small amount of territory in great detail.
Small Scale: A map scale that shows a large geographic area with less detail.
Scale Bar: A graphic that compares the distance on the map to the actual distance it represents on Earth's surface.
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