On which type of map are different countries represented in different colors with no two adjacent countries sharing a color?

A political map is designed to show boundaries and territories of different countries or regions. The key feature of a political map is that it uses color coding to differentiate between various nations or states, ensuring that adjacent countries are easily distinguishable. The practice of coloring neighboring countries differently helps to emphasize the separations and borders between them, making it straightforward for viewers to identify where one country ends and another begins.

In contrast, a physical map primarily focuses on geography and natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and elevation, rather than political boundaries. A climate map illustrates the various climate zones of a region and employs shading or colors to represent different climatic conditions, rather than the borders of countries. A contour map, on the other hand, specifically represents the elevation of terrain with lines connecting points of equal height, which is unrelated to political boundaries at all. Thus, the defining trait of a political map lies in its use of colors to represent countries distinctly and to clearly delineate borders, which aligns perfectly with the description provided.