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How To Read Topographic Map

How to read topographic map

A topographic map can be easy to read once you know the details. This is your map s unit of measurement in the united states it is generally an inch. In each of these cases contour lines are also drawn in blue.

Reading A Topographic Map Reading A Topographic Map

Reading A Topographic Map

To read and understand a topographic map you will need to understand the language of the colors used and the contour lines.

A topographic map is designed to show the physical features and terrain of an area which is what makes them ideal for backpackers. Contour lines indicate the steepness of terrain. The usgs topographic map legend is thorough with three full pages of symbols and color explanations.

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Its contours elevations topographic features bodies of water and vegetation. When learning how to read a topographic map it s important to be aware of the scale of your map. Topographic maps go further giving you the power to visualize three dimensional terrain from a flat piece of paper.

Obviously there are no life sized maps.

  • Topographic maps use green to denote vegetation such as woods while blue is used to denote water features like lakes swamps rivers and drainage.
  • Let s break these colors down to determine what they mean.
  • The smaller the scale the more detail the map has.
  • It shows the paths and it can show mountains roads rivers and lakes.

At higher elevations mountains may be snow capped year around or the terrain may actually be a glacier.

The feature that makes this possible is contour lines. What is a topographic map. First look for the map s scale which will let you know how much detail the map contains.

For example it can show the route of a city and it ll explain everything around it.

  1. They re different from other maps because they show the three dimensional landscape.
  2. All of the intricate details of topographic maps can be learned over time but the first thing the people need to understand.
  3. Method 1 assessing the contour lines.
  4. A topographic map is a two dimensional map showing both the natural and human made features of an area.

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Instead to represent a large area cartographers make maps on a ratio scale. The scale on any topographic map will tell you how many miles or fractions of a mile one inch represents. You can then orient yourself using the map so you do not get lost or turned around.

Topographic Map Reading Topographic Map Reading

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