TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
Key Vocabulary:
-Topographic Map -Contour Map
-Map -Contour Line
-Cardinal Direction -Contour Interval
-Longitude -Slope
-Latitude -Relief
-Elevation
Map: a flat
What is a
representation of earth’s
map?
surface
Maps include 4 main features:
1. Title: tells us what the map
shows
2. Scale: shows us what the
distance is in real life
3. Legend: identifies symbols on a
map
4. Compass rose: shows
directions on a map
topography – the shape of the land that includes the
area’s elevation, relief, and landforms
elevation – the height above sea level of a point on
Earth’s surface
relief – the difference in elevation between the highest
and lowest parts of an area
landform – a feature of topography, such as a hill or
valley, formed by the processes that shape Earth’s
surface.
Maps and globes are drawn to scale and
use symbols to represent topography
and other features on Earth’s surface.
scale – relates distance on a map to a distance on
Earth’s surface
symbols – used by mapmakers and can be
shapes or pictures to stand for features on
Earth’s surface; can stand for a physical feature
or a man-made feature
Cardinal directions:
North, South, East,
West
What are the N
cardinal
directions?
W E
S
Cardinal directions:
Northeast, Southeast,
Northwest, Southwest
What are the
intermediate NW NE
directions?
SW SE
equator – an imaginary line between the North and South Poles
dividing the Earth into Northern and Southern hemispheres
prime meridian – imaginary line connecting North and South poles
dividing Earth into Western and Eastern hemispheres
Lines of latitude and longitude are used to
find location on Earth
latitude – distance in degrees north or south of the equator
longitude – distance in degrees east and west of prime
meridian
What is a
topographic
map?
Topographic map:
a two-dimensional
way of showing a
three-dimensional
image of Earth’s
elevations
Before eruption
After eruption
• contour lines – represent elevation, relief and slope
and connect points of equal elevation
• contour intervals – change in elevation from one
contour line to another
Widely separated
contour lines indicate a
gentle slope
Contour lines close together
indicate a steep slope.
What are the
features of
topographic
maps?
• Relief: the
difference in
elevation
between 2 points
• Higher elevation –
lower elevation =
relief
Final Exam
The diagram below represents a portion of a contour
map. Which of the following best describes the physical
feature represented by this contour map?
A. a flood plain with creeks and
streams
B. a valley with two gently
sloping sides
C. a hill with slopes that vary in
steepness
D. a series of rivers flowing in
concentric circles
Final Exam
The diagram below represents a portion of a contour
map. Which of the following best describes the physical
feature represented by this contour map?
A. a flood plain with creeks and
streams
B. a valley with two gently
sloping sides
C. a hill with slopes that vary in
steepness
D. a series of rivers flowing in
concentric circles
• Drawing your own topographic map
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYon-S6w
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