Home Honors Integrated Sci 1 Integrated Sci 2 General Information Helpful Websites

 

 

TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS

                                              

Tates Creek campus is the highest elevation in Fayette County.

If you were to stand on the baseball field's pitchers mound you would be at the highest point!

 

 

Definitions

bulletContour Lines - a line connecting points of equal elevation.
bulletContour Interval - the vertical distance between one contour line and the next above it or uphill from it. For contour lines on a map to tell you about the ground, they must be spaced so that the vertical distances between the lines are equal.
bulletElevation - the term that states how many feet or meters that point or line is above the level of the sea. For instance, the Billings, Montana airport is at an elevation of 3,606 feet above sea level.
bulletTopographic map - a map that shows the hills and valleys of an area by showing the contour lines.

Basic rules of contour lines

  1. A contour line must never split or divide. 
  2. A contour line must never simply end except at the edge of the map.
  3. A contour line must represent one and only one elevation.
  4. A contour line may never intersect other contour lines. Overhanging cliffs are the only exception.
  5. Contour lines from a V-pattern crossing stream always points upstream.
  6. Closely spaced contour lines represent a steep slope, widely spaced lines indicate a gentle slope.
  7. Concentric circles of contour lines indicate a hilltop or mountain peak.
  8. Concentric circles of hachured contour lines indicate a closed depression.

from: http://www.lewistown.net/~sflentie/smapinfo.htm

Internet Sites

bulletDiscovering Topographic Maps
bulletAbout the Contour Maps
bulletHow to read and interpret contour maps
bulletInteractive Topo Maps
bulletMapmaker, Mapmaker, make me a Map