Topographic Maps

Topographic Maps Chad Sperry WIU GIS Center

Spring Lake, Macomb, IL

What if my contour lines are close together? • If the contour lines are close together, then that indicates that area has a steep slope.

What if my contour lines are far apart? • If the contour lines are far apart, then that indicates the land has a gentle slope (low slope).

Let’s take a walk up a hill!

We’re now at an elevation of 100 meters. 100m

Let’s keep going! 100m

Now we’re at 200m. 200m 100m

Shall we march on? 200m 100m

We’ve made it to 300m! 300m 200m 100m

On to the peak! 300m 200m 100m

We’re on the peak, but what’s our elevation? 300m 200m 100m

Any ideas? Let’sadd contour lines for every 50 meters and see if that helps. 300m 200m 100m

We know that we are above 350m, but less than 400m. 350m 300m 250m 200m 150m 100m 50m

Contour lines Relationship between topographic features and contour lines

Title and Location MAP TITLE

Title and Location QUADRANGLE LOCATION

Map design Other Information

Map Scale Definition A means of showing the relationship between the size of an object or feature indicated on a map and the actual size of the object on the ground. Scale is expressed as a ratio, such as 1:24,000 (i.e. 1 unit on the map equal 24,000 units on the ground) and shown graphically by Scale bars marked in feet and miles or meters and kilometers.

Scale Decreasing Detail Increasing Coverage 1:24,000 scale 1:100,000 scale 1:125,000 scale

More than Contours Symbols represent features such as streets, buildings, streams, and vegetation Blue lines/shapes - represent water features, such as streams and lakes. Brown – contour lines Black – Roads, buildings, railroads, other man made objects. Green – Woodland areas Red - Highways

Legend

Topographic Maps