1. Topographic Maps
Topographic Maps -- maps used to show changes in elevation
Shows how high the land is above sea level
Shows how much the elevation changes (flat land or mountains)

2. Topographic Maps 0 = sea level Positive numbers
= height above sea level
Negative numbers
= height below sea level

4. Topographic Maps Contour Lines – connect areas with the same elevation
Contour lines never cross because one point can’t have two elevations (if a point is 100m above sea level, then it can’t be m also)

5. Topographic Maps Contour intervals – distances between contour lines
The smaller the intervals (the closer the lines are to each other), the quicker the elevation is changing
Which would have closer contour lines, farmland or a mountain range?
Mountain range

6. Topographic Maps
Index contours – contour lines with numbers that let you know the exact elevation
These numbers are not on every line, so you have to figure out what the interval is
Sea level = (0m, 0km, 0mi, etc.)

7. Topographic Maps
Other features:
Hachures (dash marks around a circular region) designate a depression (an area of lower elevation)
If contour lines form upward Vs, there is a stream present in that location

8. 20 m
720 m
780 m
uphill