Social Studies: Reading Topographic Maps and Contour Lines
Using elevation, contour lines, and map symbols to understand landforms
Social Studies: Reading Topographic Maps and Contour Lines
Using elevation, contour lines, and map symbols to understand landforms
Social Studies - Grade 6-8
- 1
A topographic map has contour lines labeled 100 meters, 120 meters, 140 meters, and 160 meters. What is the contour interval, and what does it tell you?
Find the difference between two neighboring labeled contour lines.
The contour interval is 20 meters. This means each contour line represents a change of 20 meters in elevation from the next line. - 2
On a topographic map, contour lines are very close together on the west side of a hill and far apart on the east side. Which side of the hill is steeper, and how do you know?
The west side of the hill is steeper because contour lines that are close together show a rapid change in elevation over a short distance. - 3
A map shows several closed contour lines shaped like circles. The innermost circle is labeled 520 meters, and the surrounding circles are labeled 500 meters, 480 meters, and 460 meters. What landform is shown?
Look at whether the elevation gets higher or lower toward the center.
The map shows a hill or mountain because the elevation increases toward the center of the closed contour lines. - 4
A topographic map shows closed contour lines with small tick marks, called hachures, pointing inward. What type of landform do these lines usually represent?
These lines usually represent a depression, basin, or crater. The hachure marks show that the elevation decreases toward the center. - 5
A hiking trail crosses contour lines labeled 200 meters, 220 meters, 240 meters, and 260 meters as it moves north. Is the hiker traveling uphill or downhill? Explain your answer.
Follow the trail in the direction given and compare the elevation labels.
The hiker is traveling uphill because the elevation numbers increase from 200 meters to 260 meters as the trail moves north. - 6
A river is shown crossing contour lines on a topographic map. The contour lines form V shapes that point upstream. If the V shapes point toward the north, which direction is the river most likely flowing?
Rivers flow downhill, away from the upstream direction.
The river is most likely flowing south. On topographic maps, contour line V shapes usually point upstream, so the water flows in the opposite direction. - 7
A map scale says 1 centimeter equals 0.5 kilometers. Two towns are 6 centimeters apart on the map. What is the real-world distance between the towns?
The real-world distance between the towns is 3 kilometers because 6 centimeters multiplied by 0.5 kilometers per centimeter equals 3 kilometers. - 8
A student says, "Contour lines can cross each other if the mountain is very steep." Is the student correct? Explain.
Think about what each contour line represents at one location.
The student is not correct. Contour lines usually do not cross because one point on the ground cannot have two different elevations at the same time. - 9
On a topographic map, Point A is on a contour line labeled 300 meters. Point B is on a contour line labeled 420 meters. Which point is higher in elevation, and by how much?
Point B is higher in elevation by 120 meters because 420 meters minus 300 meters equals 120 meters. - 10
A community planner is choosing a route for a new walking path. Route 1 crosses many closely spaced contour lines. Route 2 follows around the hillside and crosses only a few widely spaced contour lines. Which route would likely be easier for most walkers, and why?
A gentler slope usually has less change in elevation over the same distance.
Route 2 would likely be easier for most walkers because it crosses fewer contour lines and the lines are widely spaced, showing a gentler slope.