What type of map shows physical features of the Earth?

A physical map is designed specifically to illustrate the physical features of the Earth’s surface. It emphasizes natural elements such as mountains, rivers, lakes, and valleys, often using color gradients and shading to represent elevation and terrain relief. This type of map provides a clear view of the geographical characteristics of an area, helping users understand the layout and characteristics of the land.

In comparison to other types of maps, political maps focus primarily on human-created boundaries and places, such as countries, states, cities, and roads. They do not emphasize the natural features that a physical map highlights. Weather maps are used to display meteorological data, showing weather patterns and conditions, which is unrelated to the depiction of terrain. Topographic maps, while they do include physical features, specifically provide detailed information about the terrain’s elevation and contour lines, making them more specialized than a general physical map. Thus, while both physical and topographic maps show earth features, the physical map is the more general answer for depicting the broad, natural features of the Earth.