What are the six rules for reading a topographic map?

Terms in this set (6)

Rule 1: Slope. The closer the lines are, the steeper the slope.
Rule 2: Flow and Source of a River/Stream.
Rule 3: Mountains and Hills.
Rule 4: Highest possible elevation of a hill/mountain.
Rule 5: Depressions.
Rule 6: Lowest possible elevation of a depression.

How do you read slope on a topographic map?

To find the slope of a feature, the horizontal distance (run) as well as the vertical distance (rise) between two points on a line parallel to the feature need to be determined. The slope is obtained by dividing the rise over run. Multiply this ratio by 100 to express slope as a percentage.

What features are shown on a topographic map?

Topographic maps show contours, elevation, forest cover, marsh, pipelines, power transmission lines, buildings and various types of boundary lines such as international, provincial and administrative, and many others.

What is the first step in reading a topographic map?

Interpreting the colored lines, areas, and other symbols is the first step in using topographic maps. Features are shown as points, lines, or areas, depending on their size and extent. For example, individual houses may be shown as small black squares. For larger buildings, the actual shapes are mapped.

What are neat lines on a topographic map?

In cartography, a contour line (often just called a “contour”) joins points of equal elevation (height) above a given level, such as mean sea level. A contour map is a map illustrated with contour lines, for example a topographic map, which thus shows valleys and hills, and the steepness or gentleness of slopes.

Which is the best way to read a topographic map?

Roughly concentric circles are probably showing you a peak, and areas between peaks are passes. 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. Index contour lines: Every fifth contour line is a thicker, “index” line.

What does scale mean on a topographic map?

The map’s scale tells you how detailed your map is. A 1:24000 scale, for example, means one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches of real-world terrain. If the scale ratio had a number like 1:65,000, though, that would mean that each inch on the map covered 65,000 inches of terrain.

Which is the gold standard for Topo maps?

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) used to be the gold standard for topo maps. Covering the entire country, its maps consisted of rectangular areas of land called quadrangles (“quads” for short).

What do the contour lines on a topographic map mean?

Contour lines indicate the steepness of terrain. Contour lines connect points that share the same elevation: Where they’re close together (they never intersect), elevation is changing rapidly in short distance and the terrain is steep. Where contour lines are wide apart, elevation is changing slowly, indicating a gentle slope.