How can a flat map show the very uneven surface of the earth?

Topographic mapsTopographic maps show the variations in

elevation over the landscape.

Topographic maps show elevation by using contour lines.

Contour linesContour lines: connect points that have the

same elevation show topography with their shape and spacing can be drawn to show intervals (ex. 50m, 100m, 150m) in elevation

Contour Lines in intervals of 20m

Reading Topographic Maps

Reading Topographic Maps

Reading Topographic Maps

Steps to Reading a Topographic Map• 1. the closer

the spacing, the steeper the slope (smaller and smaller loops indicates a mountain/hill)

Steps to Reading a Topographic Map2. flat

places have widely spaced lines

Steps to Reading a Topographic Map3. cliffs

have very closely spaced lines

Steps to Reading a Topographic Map4. contour

lines that cross a valley are V-shaped (if a stream or river flows in the valley, the Vs point upstream 

8th Grade Science

The world is round!!

It  was proved beyond reasonable doubt some time ago that the World is round. Strangely, road maps still show the World as if it were completely flat - few, if any, indications are given as to the rise and fall of the ground which we are all aware of in the natural course of events.

Flat mapThis is what a regular

“flat” map looks like. As you can see it is kind of dull and has no detail. All it shows is the roads and water ways,no mountains or hills or valleys. And why would anyone bother making two roads to the same place? Bo ring way is much straighter and faster than dingle road.

Three dimensional mapNow you can see why there

are two roads leading to one place dingle road is probably much older and scenic than Bo ring way and Bo ring way most likely has little if any scenery, but this map is not contour yet. This 3-d map does not show how high the mountains are and you can not see the other side of the mountains.

Finally a contour mapHere is a contour map, it

shows all of the sides of the mountain and tells how high they are, the contour interval is how many feet the mountain goes up between each line. The contour interval on this map is 200 feet, that means each space between the lines is 200 feet.