Reading and Interpreting Topographic Maps

Peaks and Valleys

Select a Topic

Terms

Rules for Drawing Contours

Tips for Interpreting Contour Patterns

Test your Knowledge

Link to Topozone

~ Key Terms ~ Key Terms ~~

ElevationA term that describes the height of a point on Earth’s

surface above (or below) sea level. This point is 6300 feet (1920 meters) above sea

level.

http://www.math.montana.edu/~nmp/materials/ess/mountain_environments/novice/yosemite.jpg

Topographic MapA map that show the elevation of the land, such

as hills and valleys, using contour lines.

http://www.math.montana.edu/~nmp/materials/ess/mountain_environments/novice/yosemite.jpg

Contour Lines

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=35.16670759393963&lon=-106.71383553979156&s=25&size=l&symshow=n

Contour lines are lines connecting points of equal elevation. Every point along the line lies at the same elevation above sea level. Imagine walking around a hill in such a way that you never go up or down the hill, but stay at the same level. The trace of your path would be a contour line of that elevation.

Contour IntervalThe vertical distance between one contour line and the next. On any

map, the contour interval must be constant, and must be shown in the map’s legend. On this map, the contour interval is 20 feet, because each line represents a 20 foot increase in elevation.

Rules for Successful Contouring

Rule #1Every point along a

contour line represents the same elevation.

This entire line represents 1200 feet above sea level.

1200

1250

1150

Rules for Successful Contouring

Rule #2Contour lines NEVER

split or divide!

Can’t happen!

1200

1250

1150

1150

Rules for Successful Contouring

Rule #3Contour lines cannot

just stop. They must either form a closed loop, or run off the edge of your map.

What’s the elevation here???

1200

1250

1150

1100

?

This is fine!

?

Rules for Successful Contouring

Rule #4Contour lines NEVER,

EVER cross

What’s going on?? Is this area above or below 1200 feet?

1200

1250

1150

1100

?

Tip 1: What does contour line spacing indicate?

The closer together the contour lines are, the steeper the hill is. The more spread apart they are, the gentler the slope.

Traveling along the red line would be much steeper than traveling along the green line.

Tip 2: Which way is the stream flowing?

When contour lines cross a stream or river, they form v-shaped kinks in the lines that always point upstream.

Also remember - Water always flows DOWNHILL! Blue Creek flow towards the East.

Tip 3: Finding the hill topsHill tops are easy to find. Just look for the

concentric closed contour lines that form the top of a hill. Notice the contour lines that form the two peaks below.

Tip 4: What do those funny hachure marks mean?

Some features, such as the Grand Canyon, lakes, mines, or sinkholes actually are holes in the ground. The hachured contours indicate a depression. Don’t confuse it with a hilltop!

60070

0

800

TOPO QUIZNow its time to test your topography map

reading skills. Good Luck!!

1. If you traveled from point A to point B, would you be going uphill or downhill?

2. What landform do you think this map depicts?a. Valleyb. Mountainc. Plain

700 750

800

X825

A

B

Correct!

Sorry• Actually, you would be going uphill. Look at the elevations on the

contour lines you will be crossing.

Sorry

3. In which direction does Maple Creek flow?

a. Northeastb. Southwestc. Can’t tell from infor

mation given4. What is the contour

interval of this map?a. 50 b. 100c. 400

Maple C

reek

800

700 600

500

5. What is the approximate elevation at the top of this hill?a. 1240b. 1300c. 1000

6. Which hike would be steeper, from A to B or from C to D?

1200

1150

1100

C D

A

B

7. What is the contour interval of this map?a. 20 feetb. -20 feetc. 60 feet

8. What type of landform is depicted here?a. a mountainb. a depressionc. a valley

2040

60

Link to Topozone

The USGS publishes topographic maps of the entire country. This website allows you to view any of these topographic maps.

Go to this site and use the map search to try to locate your city, town, school, or maybe even your own house. When you find a familiar area, examine the contours to see how well you recognize your own topographic features!