TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS SHOW THE SHAPE OF LAND

TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS

• Topography is the shape, or features, of the land.
• These features can be natural-such as mountains.
• They can be made-such as dams and roads.

EARTHS SURFACE

• A mapmaker draws a topographic map.
• A topographic map that uses lines to show Earths surface.

FEET AND METERS

• Distance and elevation are given in feet or meters.

CONTOUR LINES

• The lines on the map are called contour lines.
• The show an areas elevation, slope, and relief.

SEA LEVEL

• The elevation of a place is how high above sea level it is.
• A area can range from a few meters to several meters above sea level.

SLOPE

• The slope of a landform or area is how steep.
• The more gradual the slope, the feather apart the contour lines on the map.
• The steeper the slope the closer together the contour lines.

RELIEF

• For example the relief is the difference between high and low points.

TREFIL, JAMES S. "TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS SHOW THE SHAPE OF THE LAND." MCDOUGAL