Question:  What information does a thematic map show?
 
 Answer:  Almost any information can be shown with a thematic
          map.  A thematic map represents gross data, generally
          on a large scale.
 
 

      Thematic maps uses symbols to show certain characteristics of 
 geographical information.  The 'theme' is presented on a background 
 of basic information and its primary goal is to communicate basic 
 impressions of the distribution of the main theme.  Mineral resources,
 agricultural products, trade, transportation, densities, and population
 are just a few of the many informational cartograms that can be created
 to fufill almost any need.  Precise quantitative data is not the 
 goal of the thematic map.  Real and hypothetical geographical 
 distributions of interest are practically limitless but they can be
 narrowed down to point, line, area, or volume information relative to a 
 specific location or area in the world.  One of the most important 
 jobs of the thematic map is to show comparisions and relationships 
 among the different kinds of geographical information.