Essential elements of a map are as follows:
1) Title, Scale, Direction, Latitude and Longitude, Conventional symbols and colours, Index are the essential elements of a map.
1) 'Title' indicates the area depicted and the content of the map. It is usually given at the top of the map.
2) Scale is the relative distance used to represent the distance between two places on the earth.
3) Direction is another major element of a map. North, South, East and West are the four major directions. Magnetic compass is an instrument to find out directions.
4) Imaginary semicircle that join North and South Poles are called longitudes, whereas, lines drawn horizontally across the globe and maps are called the latitudes.
5) Features of the Earth's surface like mountains, plateaus, plains, water bodies, routes, settlements, agricultural lands etc. are depicted on maps using internationally accepted colours, signs and symbols.
6) Index is the key to map reading. Index represents the colours and signs on a map. Characteristics of a map is understood using the index.