Topographic Maps

• Topographic Map:–A contour map -

Complicated Topographic Map

Simple Topographic Map

I am standing where the land

meets the water, what is

this called?

*All elevations are relative to sea level

0 meter contour line

0 meter contour line

Profile View of Island

Sea Level 0 meters

Sea Level rises 5 meters during the night

Sea level Rises another 5 meters

Black paint

Profile View of Island

0 meters

Sea Level Rises another 5 metersA total of 15 meters

0 meters

5 meters

10 meters

15 meters

How would the island look from the Helicopter with the black lines?

15 m

0 m

10 m5 m

What are the values for the lines?

Top View of the Island

Contour Line Features

Which side of the island is steeper?

NS

15 m

0 m

10 m5 m

What do you notice about the contour lines?

North

South

Gradient:• Steep --• Gentle --

Gentle

Steep

15 m

0 m

10 m5 m

What is the elevation difference between the two locations?

Contour interval –

AB

5

15 m

0 m

10 m5 m

What is the value of each location?

C

A

E

D

B

Location ABCDE

Elevation_____

Reading Topographic Maps

How to use a map scale

15 m

0 m

10 m5 m

1 KM

Map ScalesEx: 1:24,000

One unit on the map equals 24,000 units on Earth’s surface

What about 1:100,000?

Reading Topographic Maps

• Contour lines are not all labeled

Index contour -

Intermediate contour –

What is the contour interval on this map?

Concentric circular contour lines represent a hill or

mountain

Depression --

Benchmark • __

River or Streams

What direction do rivers flow?

*-*

What do you notice about the shape of the contour lines on this

map?

• “V” pattern contours show a river or stream valley. • “V” -

Rivers flow downhill

Which direction is the river flowing?

EW

N

S

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