Geographic Features

Real world objects, whether natural or man-made, are called features when they are represented on a map. Each map feature has a location, shape, and symbol that represents one or more of its characteristics. Features can be points, lines, or polygons.

• Schools, traffic lights, crime locations, and park benches are examples of point features. Points represent objects that have discrete locations and are too small to be depicted as areas.
  
• Freeways, streets, pipelines, and waterways are examples of line features. Lines represent objects that have length but are too narrow to be depicted as areas.
  
• Parks, census tracts, postal codes, and trade areas are examples of polygon (or area) features. Polygons represent objects too large to be depicted as points or lines.

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