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Topographic Map | Definition, Features & Examples

Lesson
Transcript

Divya M K, Jeff Fennell, Jamie Lawton

Learn what a topographic map is. Various topographic map examples will be used so that topographic features and the
purpose of topographic maps can be understood. Updated: 11/21/2023

FAQs
Activities

Make Your Own Topographic Map

What you will need:

Paper
Cardboard, preferably a thicker cardboard
Scissors that will cut the cardboard
Pens and pencils
Markers, paint (optional)

Instructions

1) Begin by using the cardboard to build an imaginary terrain. For example, cut out a series of circles, one smaller than the
next, and stack them, with the largest on the top and the smallest on the bottom. They should look a bit like a hill. Repeat
with the other shapes as you like.

2) Arrange the stacks of circles on your paper. As you build your terrain, you'll notice that some areas sit higher on the
paper and areas that sit lower.

3) Once you've arranged your imaginary terrain to your liking, you'll be ready to make your topographic map. Lets go back
to your original stack of circles. Start by tracing the largest circle on the paper. Now, trace the next-largest circle inside the
circle on the paper. Repeat this process for each circle. The result will be a series of circles, one inside the other. Though
the drawing is flat, each circle represents an increase in elevation equal to the thickness of the cardboard in your
imaginary terrain. You can repeat this process for all of the shapes that you built up with the cardboard.

4) When you are done tracing, you can color in the terrain and add some rivers. You could also name some of the peaks in
your terrain.

5) You now have a topographic map of the terrain that you created!

What are the physical features of a topographic map?

A topographic map is a detailed and accurate illustration of man-made and natural features on the ground such as roads,
railways, power transmission lines, contours, elevations, rivers, lakes and geographical names. Topographic maps have
contour lines that show how the elevation of the landscape changes. Contour lines are imaginary lines on Earth's surface
that connect points that are the same height above sea level. Contour lines connect points that share the same elevation:
Where they're close together (they never intersect), elevation is changing rapidly in short distance and the terrain is steep.
Where contour lines are wide apart, elevation is changing slowly, indicating a gentle slope.

Which two features does a topographical map display?

Topographic maps show the land's contours, allowing us to determine features of the landscape such as plains,
mountains, valleys, canyons, and hillsides.
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Table of Contents
What Is a Topographic Map?
Contour Lines
What Is A Topographic Map Used For
Lesson Summary

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What Is a Topographic Map?

There are many different kinds of maps for many different purposes. Just like you would not use a globe to navigate a
road trip, road maps are not much help for depicting land features. Topography is the study of the land surface.
Topographical maps are special types of maps that show the different land features. Topographical maps can be used to
determine where the landscape is flat and where it is dominated by mountains. You can also identify valleys, canyons, and
hillsides. A normal map is a flat model of all or part of Earth's surface drawn to a specific scale. Topographic maps show
the elevation of different landforms above sea level.

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Contour Lines
Topographic maps have contour lines that show how the elevation of the landscape changes. Contour lines are imaginary
lines on Earth's surface that connect points that are the same height above sea level. On this map, the contour lines look
like concentric circles. The outside line is at sea level, which means it has an elevation of zero meters above sea level. The
next contour line has an elevation of 10 meters above sea level. The line above that has an elevation of 20 meters above
sea level. Contour lines connect points that share the same elevation: Where they are close together (they never intersect),
elevation is changing rapidly in short distance and the terrain is steep. Where contour lines are wide apart, elevation is
changing slowly, indicating a gentle slope. In this example, the contour lines are evenly spaced apart. This indicates that
the slope of the hill is an even and steady curve of elevation from top to bottom.

Topographical map showing

contour lines and contour
intervals

Contour Interval

A contour interval is the difference in elevation between any two adjacent contour lines. In this case, the contour interval is
10 meters. Note how the contour lines at 0 and 50 meters are thicker than the rest of the lines. These are known as index
contour lines. Index contour lines are usually identified every fourth or fifth line on a topographic map. Index contour lines
make it easier to read elevation levels, much like chapters in a book.

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What Is A Topographic Map Used For

Lesson Summary

Video Transcript

Topographic Maps
A topographic map is a type of map that shows heights that you can measure. A traditional topographic map will have all
the same elements as a non-topographical map, such as scale, legend, and north arrow.
On a map, you are looking straight down, so it is difficult to see the change in elevation of the ground. As you can see in
this image, a topographic map uses lines to determine the heights of features such as mountains and valleys.
Topographic maps can show the heights of features a variety of ways, including contour lines, relief, and color.

Contour Lines
The defining feature of a two-dimensional topographical map is its contour lines. A contour line is a line joining points of
equal elevation on a surface. An easy way to imagine a contour line is to imagine walking around the shore of a lake. As
you walk, you will always remain at the same elevation, and eventually you will return to your starting point.

There are three rules for contour lines:

1. Every point along a contour line is the exact same elevation

2. Contour lines can never cross each other
3. A contour line must close on itself

Some contour lines will have their elevation marked next to them, but not all. In order to calculate the height of any
contour line, you need to know the contour interval.

Contour Interval
A topographical map will contain many contour lines, but the change in elevation between each line will remain the same;
this is called a contour interval. By making the change in elevation between the lines equal, it is easy to calculate height
by using multiplication.

For example, this image shows contour lines that we can use to calculate contour intervals:

For this map, the contour interval is 5. This can be calculated by dividing the difference between the two known elevations
by the number of contour lines in between. While the horizontal distance varies between the lines, it is important to
remember that contour lines are there to show elevation. In addition to calculating the contour interval, it is also usually
labeled on the map near the legend.

An easy way to think about topographic maps is the distance between the lines is horizontal distance, while the values of
the lines are the elevation. If the distance between the lines is very far apart, that indicates a gradual increase in elevation.
If the lines are close together, the change in elevation happens very quickly, indicating a steep terrain.

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Table of Contents
What Is a Topographic Map?
Contour Lines
What Is A Topographic Map Used For
Lesson Summary

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