Topographic Maps

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Topographic Maps
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Topographic Maps

• A map that shows the surface features of Earth
• Shows the eLEvATion of an area
• Height of an object above sea level

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Topographic Map Features

• Natural Features
• Rivers, lakes
• Mountains
• Artificial (man made) features
• Cities
• Roads, bridges

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Parts of a Topographic Map

• 1. Contour Lines
• A line that connects points of equal elevation
• Used to show features of the land
• Spacing of lines depends on slope of land
• Close lines steeper slope
• Farther apart gentle slope

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Parts of a Topographic Map

• 2. Contour Interval
• The difference in elevation between one contour
  line to the next
• Stays the same throughout a map

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Parts of a Topographic Map
3. Index Contour

• A darker, bolder contour line that indicates a
  change in elevation
• Usually found every fifth (5th) contour line

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Reading Topographic Maps

• Features on Earths surface can be represented by
  colors
• Blue Water
• Brown contour lines
• Green wooded areas

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Golden Rules of Topographic Maps

• 1.Contour lines never cross, all points on a line
  represent one elevation
• 2. Spacing of contour lines depends on steepness
  of slope
• 3. Tops of mountains or hills are shown by closed
  circles

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Golden Rules of Topographic Maps (continued)

• 4. Contour lines that cross a valley or stream
  are V-shaped
• The V points towards the area of highest
  elevation
• 5. Depressions have hash marks pointing towards
  the center

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Lets take a walk up a hill!
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Were now at an elevation of 100 meters.
100m
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Lets keep going!
100m
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Now were at 200m.
200m
100m
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Shall we march on?
200m
100m
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Weve made it to 300m!
300m
200m
100m
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On to the peak!
300m
200m
100m
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Were on the peak, but whats our elevation?
300m
200m
100m
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Any ideas?
Lets add contour lines for every 50 meters and
see if that helps.
300m
200m
100m
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We know that we are above 350m, but less than
400m.
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Lets head down the hill, its getting late!
350m
300m
250m
200m
150m
100m
50m
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Now whats our elevation?
If you said somewhere between 200m and 250m you
are right!
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Lets try this again!
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Whats our elevation now?
If you said 50m or just under, youre right!
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Lets now look at the same hill, but the way we
might see it from an airplane!
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Each color change represents a 50 meter increase.
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Now, lets try the same hike! Our elevation is 0
meters.
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Now what is our elevation?
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If you said more than 150 meters, but less than
200 meters your right!
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Lets go a little higher.
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Think you know our elevation now?
More than 300meters--But less than 350meters
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If we were standing on the peak, what would be
our elevation?

• More than 350 meters, less than 400 meters

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Lets head down hill.
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Know our elevation?
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More than 100 meters, less than 150 meters
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I think you got it!
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Quiz Time

• Grab a piece of paper and write your answers to
  the following questions.
• Ready?

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1. Could the elevation at the peak (B) be 1410
meters?
2. What is the elevation at (E)?
3.What is the elevation difference between (A)
(B)?
4. Could the elevation at (F) be 417 meters?
5. If you walked a straight line from (D) to (C)
would you walk over a ridge or down a valley?
6.Just looking at the map, would it be easier to
head down from the peak going East, or going
North?
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Answers!

• No The elevation must be under 1400 meters, but
  over 1300 meters.
• 2. about 400 meters
• 3. (A) is probably close to the 750 meter line,
  (B) is above 1300 meters. The difference between
  the two would probably be 650 to 700 meters.
• 4. No It must be more than 700 meters and less
  than 800 meters.
• 5. Down a valley If the contour lines point up
  the slope its a valley, if they point down the
  slope its a ridge.
• 6. East When contour lines are close together
  that means there is a steep slope, the further
  apart the lines, the more gentile the slope and
  therefore an easier walk! Go east!