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Ms.Kaiter©2006-2009

 

~ Topographic Maps ~

 

What is a topo map?

  • A Topo Map shows elevation above sea level.
  • Brown colored Contour Lines are lines of equal elevation above sea level.

 

Topo Maps are color coded:

BROWN: Contour Lines of Elevation

WHITE: Area of No Vegetation

GREEN: Vegetation (Forests, Grasslands)

BLUE: Water (Sea, Ocean, Lake, River, Pond)

BLACK: Man-Made Features (Buildings, Roads, Mines)

RED: Significant Manmade Features (Highway, Government Area)

PINK: Densely Populated Urban Area

Note the colors on the topo map below.

BELOW: TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS

Click here: Maps on Line - Concord, MA

~ TOPOGRAPHIC MAP SYMBOLS ~

Click here: Take the Topo Map Symbol Quiz

Contour Lines show elevation above sea level.

Index Contour Lines are shown in bold.

QUESTION: What are the elevations of points A through D?

CHALLENGE QUESTION: Can you figure out the elevation of points A throuth J?

Surveyors use "Benchmarks" to mark elevation.

Who Creates Topo Maps? SURVEYORS

 

 

Surveyor's Rod:

 

 

Modern Surveyor - GPS Satellite

Groovy Colored Topo vs. Black and White Topo

 

 

Use the topographic map below to answer the question.

QUESTION: Throughout the area shown in the map, a thunderstorm dropped about 3 inches of rain in less than two hours. Which point on the map would be in the greatest danger of flooding?

A) point A

B) point B

C) point C

D) point D

FYI: Compared to points B,C and D, Point A is at the lowest elevation on the topographic map above. Water flows downhill due to gravity. Brown contour lines show elevation. Notice that Point A is only 18 meters above sea level. It is also on the river, and when there is rain, the banks can oveflow onto the floodplain. Points C and D are located on a hill (concentric circles) and are higher in elevation. Point B is on a tributary stream, but is higher in elevation than Point A. So, "A" is the correct answer. Point A is in the greatest danger of flooding.

Click here: How to read a Topographic Map / Activity

Click here: View another sample question on this topic