![]() The color brown is used to denote most contour lines on a map, which are relief features and elevations. Common Topographic Map Symbols Topographic map colorsĬommon Topographic Map Symbols: It’s important to know what kind of terrain and environment you’re traveling into and what the map of that area is telling you. Compare the topographic map with the landscape perspective. They tend to parallel each other, each approximately the shape of the one above it and the one below it. A contour line is a brown line on a map that connects all points of the same elevation. They reveal the location of slopes, depressions, ridges, cliffs, the height of mountains and hills, and other topographical features. Common Topographic Map Symbols Interpreting Contour LinesĬontour lines on a map show topography or changes in elevation. ![]() Studying a topo map of a familiar area is a great way to learn how to match terrain features with the contour lines on a map. ![]() Roughly concentric circles are probably showing you a peek, and areas between peaks are passes. Where contour lines are wide apart, the elevation is changing slowly, indicating a gentle slope.Ĭontour lines also indicate the shape of the terrain. Contour lines connect points that share the same elevation: Where they’re close together (they never intersect), the elevation is changing rapidly in short distance and the terrain is steep. How to read contour linesĬontour lines indicate the steepness of the terrain. They are typically found where there is little change in elevation. These lines do not have their elevation given and are found in sets of four between indexed contour lines.įinally, when the terrain is expansively flat, cartographers will often include supplementary contour lines, which are dashed lines indicating an elevation that is half of the elevation between the contour lines surrounding it. Lighter contour lines, that fall between indexed lines, are known as intermediate contour lines. Typically every fifth contour line is an index. Heavier contour lines are known as indexed contour lines and are normally numbered showing elevation. These paths and segments are presented as elevations (vertical distance above or below sea level) and reliefs (the shape of terrain features on the Earth’s surface). They are map artifacts used to represent paths or segments of Earth at an equal elevation. Contour lines on a mapĬommon Topographic Map Symbols: Contour lines are imaginary Topographic maps also represent streets and trails, vegetation, streams, and every type of feature that may positively or negatively impact your ability to navigate through the terrain. The primary purpose of a topographic map is to accurately represent the shape of the Earth’s surface, but the utility doesn’t stop there. The ability to fuse these major factors is the most critical skill one can learn when using a topographic map. This contour and elevation information distinguishes them from other maps. These maps show the land’s contours, elevations, mountains, valleys, bodies of water, vegetation and more. In a nutshell, topographic maps allow you to see a three-dimensional landscape on a two-dimensional surface. And that means you need to be able to read a topographic map.Ĭommon Topographic Map Symbols: What’s the difference between a topographic map and a regular map? But if you’ve strayed from the road, perhaps on a backpacking trek, you need to see the terrain and the contours of the land. If you’re trying to drive from Point A to Point B, a regular road map is a way to go. Types of contour lines Reading a topographic map worksheetĭifferent maps serve different purposes. The most frequently used topographic map is at a scale of 1:50 000. The topographic map is a two-dimensional representation of the Earth’s three-dimensional landscape. 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.
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