1. Reading and Interpreting Topo Maps Investigation and Experimentation
Topographic Maps
Reading and Interpreting Topo Maps
Investigation and Experimentation

2. PA Topography
___________________, commonly referred to as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania is surrounded by approximately 165,000 acres of the Tioga State Forest.

3. Different maps show us different things.
Maps - Introduction
Different maps show us different things.
_________________Shows us the shape of the land – mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes.
__________________Uses contour lines to show elevation.
_________________– Shows us how to get from one place to another.

4. Topographic Maps - Introduction
_______________is the study and description of the shape of the land and surface features.
___________________: Shows the shape of the land by connecting points of the same elevation to form a line –_____________.

5. Topographic Maps - Contour
_____________: An imaginary line that connect points of equal elevation.
_______________: The vertical distance between contour lines.
___________________(reference lines) : The heavier, wider contour line (usually every 5th line) that gives us the elevation above sea level.

6. Map Reading Activity: Topography
What is the contour interval for the map?
What is the distance between each index contour?

7. Topographic Map – Contour Properties
Closely spaced contour lines represent________________.
Widely spaced contour lines represent_________________.

8. Topographic Map – Contour Properties
Approximately how tall is Able Hill?
Approximately how tall is Baker Hill?
Which hill is taller and by how much?
How many feet of elevation are there between contour lines?
Are the contour lines closer together at Able Hill or Baker Hill?
Which mountain has steeper slopes?

9. Topographic Map – Contour Properties
Contour lines form a V when crossing
streams. The V always points
___________________________.
Concentric circles of contour lines indicate a____________________________.
Concentric circles of hachured contour lines indicate a_________________________

10. Topographic Map - scale
Map scale expresses the relationship between the distance on the map to the true distance on the earth’s surface.
This is usually represented as a ratio 1:24,000 or a fraction 1/24,000.
1:24,000 means that 1 unit on the map represents 24,000 of the same units of the earth.
_________________
Covers more area but in less detail. Note
The town of Apollo
(center) and the
Kiskiminetas River.
____________________
Medium scaled map. Note the town of Apollo. You can see the streets and the Kiskiminetas in more detail.
___________________
The small scale shows the most detail. It covers less area but with much more detail. Note Apollo. You can see houses and buildings.

11. Topographic Map – Colors
______– water features
_________ – woodlands
________ – contour lines
_________ – roads, urban areas
___________ – Man-made features