Topographic Maps
Topographic MapA map that show the ___________________________ of the land, such as hills and valleys, using
__________________________.
Elevation: A term that describes the _______________ of a point on Earth’s surface ____________ (or
below) _______________________________.
Features of a Topographic Map:
1. Natural Features: __________________________
2. Artificial (man-made) features:
________________________________________
Parts of a Topographic Map
Contour Lines- A line that connects points of ____________________
 Used to show features of the land such as _________________
____________________, etc
 Spacing of lines depends on _____________________
Close contour lines = _______________________
Farther apart contour lines = ___________________
Contour Interval- The ______________ in elevation between
one _____________ line and the next; Spacing of lines depends on slope
______________________
___________________- A darker, bolder contour line that indicates a
change in elevation;
Usually found every ___________ contour line
Answer “
_________________
What does contour line spacing indicate? The ________________________ the contour lines are, the
________________ the hill is. The more __________________ they are, the _________________ the slope.
Which way is the stream flowing?
When contour lines cross a stream or river, they form
_________________________ kinks in the lines that
always point _____________. Also remember Water always flows DOWNHILL!
Draw picture of flowing stream.
Finding the hill tops
Hill tops are easy to find. Just look for the
________________________ contour lines
that form the top of a hill. Put a box around the hill tops.
What do those funny hachure marks mean?
Some features, such as the ______________________,
lakes, mines, or ___________________ actually are
holes in the _______________. The hachured contours
indicate a ______________________. Don’t confuse it
with a hilltop!
Relief: The__________________ between the ________________ elevation point and the _______________
elevation point on a map.
Satellite Map view: A _____________made of _______________ of the Earth taken from a satellite orbiting the
Earth
The Golden Rules
1. Every ______________ along a contour line represents the same ________________________.
2. Contour lines NEVER _____________ or _______________!
3. Contour lines cannot just stop. They must either form a ________________ loop, or
_________________ the edge of your map.
4. Contour lines NEVER, EVER ___________________.
5. Contour lines that cross a valley or stream are __________________.The V points towards the
_____________________ elevation
6. Tops of _____________________ are shown by closed circles
TOPO QUIZ
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. Valley
b. Mountain
c. Plain
3. In which direction does Maple Creek flow?
c. Northeast
b. Southwest
c. Can’t tell from information given
4. What is the contour interval of this map?
a. 50
b. 100
c. 400
5. What is the approximate elevation at the top of this hill?
a. 1240
b. 1300
c . 1000
6. Which hike would be steeper, from A to B or from C to D?_______________________7. What is the contour interval of this map?
a. 20 feet
b. -20 feet
c. 60 feet
8. What type of landform is depicted here?
a. a mountain
b. a depression
c. a valley