Clay Mountain Range Activity
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Using the clay mountain topographic map model
you made yesterday, darken each of your
contour intervals using the sharpie marker at
your lab table.
Cut out your topographic mountain and glue it
onto another piece of paper, along with your lab
partners’ mountains as well. Use the basic
contour map 1 to the right as a guide to what it
might look like, but your mountain range can be
unique. Make it your own. There are four
mountain peaks on this map, and yours may
have 3 or 5, depending upon the number of
partners in your group.
Map 1
Make an effort to join the contour lines between
your mountain and your lab partners’ mountains.
When completed, your group map may look like the map to the right
(map 2)
Draw in more contour lines, if possible, so that you can make a new
contour interval of perhaps 500, or 250 meters. Make these lighter.
(see image of map 2, below)
Determine the maximum height of your mountain using the contour
interval we discussed yesterday (1 cm = 1,000 meters). Name your
mountain using your name. (EX: Brice Mountain)
After each partner has finished their own mountain, look again at
map 1. One partner will draw a river on your map. Remember, the
contour lines bend in the direction from which the river flows, and
that rivers NEVER flow UP the side of a mountain. They tend to
follow the contours, gently moving downward. You should have a
destination for your river, such as the ocean or a large lake drawn in
part on your map. Name the river for the partner who drew it in.
Look again at map 1. Another partner will draw a railroad track
through your mountains. Name the tracks using the initials of the
partner who drew it…example, the D&D railroad tracks (if I were to
draw it)
Another partner is going to blaze a hiking trail
through the mountains. The trail should be
represented by a dotted line of a brighter color. Use
a marker that is a distinct color. Name the trail after
the partner who blazes it. Remember, hiking trails
tend to take the gentler slope, rather than the steep
slopes…unless you have mountain climbing in mind!
The fourth partner is going to draw in a county road.
Roads are made with a contrasting color, and are
dashed (see image of map 3 at right. Roads tend to
follow the contours as well, because it is expensive
to build straight roads, right up the side of a
mountain. Name the road after the partner who
created it. (such as the scenic Deirdre Highway…if I
Map 3
had drawn it).
Map 2
10. If you have a 5th partner, they are responsible for naming the range of mountains that your group
created, along with the body of water your river flows to, whether it be a lake or an ocean.
11. Put a map key/legend in the bottom right corner of your map, showing what each symbol your
group used stands for, and add a compass and four points (N, S, E, and W)
Clay Mountain Range Activity
Topographic Map Analysis Questions:
On your group’s topographic map:
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Why are some of the contour lines closer together than others?
What kind of slope gives you lines that are far apart?
On your topographic map, where are the steepest slopes?
Which mountain was the highest on your map…and what is its absolute highest elevation, based
on contour interval? (Use the name of the mountain)
5. Describe why you would, or would not want to build a house and live in the area depicted by your
topographic map. (Write at LEAST 5 sentences)