Name: ___________________________ Period: _________ Date: _____________________________
Show the natural and man-made surface features Indicates landforms, bodies of water, streets/roads, and cities Use contour lines to show changes in elevation USGS mapped United States and are updated regularly Most common: 7.5 minute map Scale: 1:24000 (inches)
Definition: A line that connects points of the same elevation Color: brown Index Contour Line: line labeled with elevation; every 5 th contour line is an index Interval is the difference in elevation between 2 consecutive contour lines; usually 20 ft. Isobaths: show elevation of land below water; usually BLUE in color
When a contour line crosses a valley, it will make a “V”. The apex of the “V” will point to Higher elevation; or the river flows OUT of the “V”.
When land is going down in elevation due to an impact, hole, crater, or lake. Contour line will be marked with hachures. Follow the same rule as contour lines. RULE: The first depression line is equal to the contour before it. Thereafter, decrease each depression line by the contour interval
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The closer lines are spaced, the STEEPER the gradient The further apart lines are spaced, the MORE GENTLE the gradient. Slope of the land can be measured by difference in ELEVATION divided by DISTANCE covered.
North is always indicated on a map. It is always understood that North is the TOP OF THE MAP. Magnetic Declination: the angle by which a compass needle will vary from true north (geographic North) A LEGEND will give a list of symbols that represent objects on the map. Also referred to as a KEY.
Map Scales: Tell how the map compares in size with the piece of earth it represents. 3 ways to express: VERBAL:1 cm represents 50 km GRAPHICAL: miles NUMERICAL:1: 1000 (read: distance measured on map is actually this distance on earth) ** SAME UNITS** The more closely the map approaches the land in size, the larger the scale on the map. Example: A map of the US will have a scale of 1:500. A map of NJ will have a scale of 1:5