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topography

Topography refers to the physical and natural features of the land, represented through topographic maps that include both natural and man-made features. Contour lines on these maps indicate elevation, with closely spaced lines signifying steep slopes and widely spaced lines indicating gentle slopes. Key terms include map scale, legend, index contours, relief, and contour intervals, which help in understanding the elevation and features of the landscape.

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Anastasha Cantillo
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11 views25 pages

topography

Topography refers to the physical and natural features of the land, represented through topographic maps that include both natural and man-made features. Contour lines on these maps indicate elevation, with closely spaced lines signifying steep slopes and widely spaced lines indicating gentle slopes. Key terms include map scale, legend, index contours, relief, and contour intervals, which help in understanding the elevation and features of the landscape.

Uploaded by

Anastasha Cantillo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is TOPOGRAPHY?

Topography is the physical and natural


features of the land
A topographic map shows natural features
(such as elevation) and man made features
(such as schools)
Contour Lines
The squiggly lines on a topographic map
are called contour lines
Contour lines are lines that represent a
certain height or elevation
All points on a contour lines are the same
elevation
Contour Lines and Elevation
Imagine a picture of a
mountain and then
imagine there were lines
drawn around it every
20 feet
What would the
mountain with the lines
look like if you stood on
the side of it?
What would the
mountain with the lines
look like if you were
looking down on it from
an airplane?
Contour Lines and Elevation
The closer the contour lines are to each
other, the steeper the slope is!
Other Topographic Terms
Map scale – compares distances on the map
with distances on earth.
Legend – explains symbols used on the map.
Index contours – contour lines that are
labeled to help you find the contour interval.
Relief – the difference in elevation between
any 2 points
A contour interval is the difference in
elevation between two contour lines that are
side by side.
Remember that a contour interval is not the
distance between the two lines – to get the
distance you need to use the map scale.
How to Read a Topographic
Map:

Contour Line:
Connect points of equal
elevation

Each line represents a


change in elevation
Index Contour:

Darker, heavier lines – usually about every 5-


10 lines. These are often the only lines
labeled
Contour Interval:

The amount of elevation between 2 contour


lines.

Example:
If the contour
interval on this
map is 10 feet,
what is the
elevation of
“A”?
Relief:

The difference between the highest and


lowest point on the map.

What is the relief


on this map?

(Remember the
contour interval
is 10 feet)
Answer the Following…
Circle the map
scale

Is there a legend?

Circle at least one


index contour

What is the
contour interval?
Mountains
Mountains are represented by a series of
circles
This is a top down view
Depressions
A depression, such as the inside of a dead
volcano, is represented by Hachure lines.
Hachure lines are regular contour lines with
small segments sticking out from it.
The first hachure line is at the same
elevation as the contour line before it.
Streams
Streams are found in areas of low elevation
Streams are sometimes represented by a
dark line
Contour lines form Vs that point
upstream (toward higher elevation)
The Vs point in the
opposite direction that
the water flows
Golden Rules of Reading
Topographic Maps:

1. Contour lines NEVER cross


2. All points on one contour line represent one
elevation
3. Closely spaced contour lines mean steep slope
4. Contour lines that are far apart mean gentle slop
or flat land
5. Contour lines that cross a valley or stream are v-
shaped
a. The v points to higher elevation
b. The v points upstream
Example:
Answer the Following….

What letter
represents the
stream?
What type of
elevation is here?
Which way is the
water moving: to
the right or to the
left?
Topographic Symbols
Mappers, also called cartographers use
symbols to represent certain things on a
topographic map
For example, the color green represents an
area with lots of trees or vegetation
Topographic Symbols
Red is used to show a road, highway or
interstate
Topographic Symbols
Buildings are usually shown as little black
squares
What landforms can be
shown on a topographic
map?
Canyons – deep valleys with steep sides,
often with streams flowing through
River deltas – “end” of a river, where the
river enters a larger body of water
Mountains or hills – high elevation
Valleys/depressions – low elevation
Ridges – long, narrow elevation or chain of
mountains
What’s happening here?

Which direction has higher elevation?


How do you know?
What’s happening here?

Is this steeper or more gradual than


the last slide? How can you tell?
Which direction has higher elevation?
What’s happening here?

Mountain or valley? How


can you tell?
Draw a topographic map for a “pretend landscape” that has
a relief of 200 mts, 2 hills, 1 depression, a river, 2 cities,
and some wooded areas. Use a contour interval of 20
mts.
Show roads leading to the city
Provide a bridge connection over the two city
The river divides the two city
The rivers delta is lake located on the southwest of the
map
Provide the following engineering features
 Roads leading to a CELL SITE tower located atop one of the hill
 A camping site within the foot of the hill of the second hillside
 Each city will have atleast 50 buildings of different sizes

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