Maps

What do we need in order to read a map? Direction Scale Legend

TYPES OF MAPS

Road Maps Shows people how they can travel form one place to another Shows where the main highways are and where small country roads are.

Shaded Relief Map Shows the shape of the land- mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes

Topographic Maps Show a two- dimensional representation of a portion of the three dimensional surface of the earth.

Topographic Maps

What is a topographic map? a map showing topographic features, usually by means of contour lines. Graphic representation of the surface features of a place or region on a map, indicating their relative positions and elevations.

Land Height Elevation- is the vertical distance above or below mean sea level. Relief- is a representation of the shapes of hills, valleys, streams or terrain CONTOUR LINES

Contour Lines Contour lines join points on a map that are of equal height above sea level

Contour Lines How high above sea level is point X? 50 m How high above sea level is point Y? 125m

Contour Lines On the above map, the highest point is shown with a dot. This is called a spot height.

Rules of Contour Lines 1.A contour line must never divide or split. 2.A contour line must never simply end. Somewhere the two ends of a contour line must join to enclose an irregularly circular region. 3.A contour line must represent one and only one elevation.

Rules of Contour Lines 4.A contour line may never intersect other contour lines. 5.Contour lines forms a V pattern when crossing streams and it always points upstream. 6.Closely spaced contour lines indicate a steep slope; widely spaced lines indicate a gentle slope.

Rules of Contour Lines 7.Concentric circles of contour lines indicate a hilltop or mountain peak. 8.Concentric circles of hashed contour lines indicate a hollow or closed depression.

Contour Intervals A set distance between contour lines on a map. Ex. A 100 interval would mean that you have lines showing 100m changes in elevation between them.

Question So, what is the contour interval for this island? 50m

Drawing Contour Lines Where would X and Y be on this map?

Drawing Contour Lines

Recognizing Contour Lines

Map Symbols Topographic maps usually have a separate sheet with an explanation of map symbols. There is no room on the map for all the symbols Sample page from USGS Topo Map Symbol Pamphlet 13

23 TOPOGRAPHIC MAP DESCRIPTION Five basic colors are used for Topographic Maps. Brown (Contour Lines: shows elevation) Black (Man Made Features: Buidlings, Roads, Trails) Blue (Water Features: lakes, rivers) Green (Vegetation: forests, other) Red (Highway and Land Grids) Three minor colors Pink (Built up area, civilization) Purple (Updated Map Information) White: no forests, might be farmland, meadows etc… PART 1 Basic Land Navigation

Map Symbols Symbols are used to represent the natural and man-made features of the earth. cem It is a map language that is simple to read and understand. BUT you must first know what the map symbols represent, in order to understand, read and speak map language to others. PART 1 Basic Land Navigation 24

Woods Scrub Orchard Vineyard Mangrove VEGETATION Map Symbols PART 1 Basic Land Navigation 25

Marsh or swamp Submerge marsh or swamp Wood marsh or swamp Submerge wood marsh or swamp Rice field Land subject to inundation SUBMERGED AREAS AND BOGS PART 1 Basic Land Navigation 26

RIVERS, LAKES, AND CANALS Perennial stream Perennial river Small falls; small rapids Large falls; large rapids Dry lake Perennial lake or pond Intermittent lake or pond Intermittent stream Dam Intermittent river Well or spring Canal Map Symbols PART 1 Basic Land Navigation 27

MAN-MADE FEATURES and HIGHWAY & LAND GRIDS Highway Road Dirt Road Trail Power Lines Buildings Built-up Areas Airports Landing Strip School Church cem Cemetery Mine Gravel Pit Bridge Foot Bridge Railroad Land Grids Map Symbols PART 1 Basic Land Navigation 28

Now you draw the lines.