TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS Topographic maps show changes in elevation

TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS Topographic maps show changes in elevation of Earth’s surface. These maps use lines, symbols, and colors to represent changes in elevation and features on Earth

CONTOUR LINES: connect points of equal elevation. • Lines that are far apart mean the slope is a gentle slope. • Lines that are close together mean the slope is steep. CIRCLES WITHIN CIRCLES REPRESENT A HILL If two people start walking in opposite directions on the same contour line, beginning at point A, they will eventually meet face to face.

Which map below would be the easiest to hike? Co nt Fa our r A Lin pa es rt Easy Hiking Trail Mountain Climb HOW DO I KNOW?

Steepest Where on the AB Line (left or right) would be the steepest slope?

Here at X At what point will the trail be the steepest? W, X, Y, or Z

CONTOUR INTERVAL: Is the distance between two contour lines. If these same two people start out in opposite directions on different contours, beginning at points A and B respectively, they will pass each other somewhere on the hill and their vertical distance apart would remain 20 feet.

What is the contour interval in the topo map below? 580 560 540 520 20 feet

What is the contour interval of this map? 450 445 440 435 430 5 Feet

INDEX CONTOURS: are marked with their elevation. The index contour is 6800 feet in elevation.

HACHURES: the elevations of some features such as volcanic craters and sinkholes are lower than that of the surrounding landscape. Hachures, (aka tick marks) point toward the lower elevation.

What type of terrain do you think this is? Sinkholes

The first hachure line has the same elevation as the adjacent lower contour line. What is the elevation at E? 10

RIVERS OR STREAMS: Contour lines that cross over the stream will bend into a “V” shape. The “V” points upstream, where the stream began. Direction Stream is Flowing Water always flows downhill, which is always in the opposite direction of the point in the “V”

Which direction is the stream flowing? Southwest

Do you see the stream? Is it flowing towards the east or west? The stream is flowing towards the east

MOUNTAINS: Most mountains on a topo map are marked with spot benchmarks. Benchmarks are the exact elevation at that location. This allows you to know exactly how high above sea level you are. Benchmarks can be demonstrated in the following ways: X 516 BM 491 Δ 7893

Map Scales Most all maps have a scale. A map scale is the ratio between distances on the map and on the earth’s surface. Samples of types of scales on maps: 1. 1: 24, 000 means 1 cm on the map equals 24, 000 cm on land 2. 1 cm= 1 km---means 1 com on the map=1 km on land 3. A bar graph----one inch equals a certain number of miles on land

Map Legends: Symbols that represent both man-made and nature made features.

AMAZING EARTH SCIENCE FACTS closer 1. The ____ the contour lines, the steeper the slope V’s upstream 2. Contour lines form ____ and point _____ of rivers and creeks hill 3. A set of circles inside circles indicates a ______, the hilltop smallest circle in the middle is the ______ depressions 4. Tick marks (hactures) are ________, the first tick marked line is the same elevation as the adjacent contour line Contour interval 5. _________ is the amount between adjacent contour lines. 6. The ocean is at sea level which has an elevation of ___ 0

What do you call a map of the prison system?

A con-tour map! What do you get when you cross a cowboy and a mapmaker?

A cow-tographer! A cartographer is a map maker