1. Topography The Art of Reading & Using Contour Maps

2. What is a Topographic Map? Earth's surface shape shown by contour lines Contour lines - lines connecting points of equal elevation measure mountain height, ocean depths, slope steepness Allows planning for – parks hiking/riding building/construction drainage

3. Reading Topographic Maps Contours – lines of different widths Contours never cross Used to determine elevations – index contours are wider Elevations printed along index contours Narrower contours found between index contours – help show more details of land surface

4. Contours close together = steep slopes Widely spaced contours = fairly level/flat ground slope relatively level contour interval = elevation difference between adjacent contour lines Reading Topographic Maps (continued)

6. Index Contour (Elevation = 100’) Index Contour (Elevation = 200’) Every 5 lines: (200-100)/5 = 20’ Therefore, contour interval = 20’

7. What Does It All Mean? The more contour lines packed closely together represent steep, cliff-like areas

8. What Does It All Mean? The more two contour lines are spread apart, the flatter the area

9. What Does It All Mean? Contour lines that form a mountain-like shape show where water has cut a path (valley)

10. What is the contour interval? What is the elevation of Mt. Rainer? Describe the circled area. Describe this circled area. 14,000 13,800 14,000 – 13,800 = 200 200 / 5 lines =40’ X

11. What is the average elevations for houses 3, 4, and 5 to the nearest tenth of a meter? Contour Interval = 3 m 112 973 82......

12. Predictions How might this area’s landform change over time?

13. Remember… Topographic maps can help you find elevations, Trails, and Places to climb Topographic maps show you the “lay of the land” (landforms) by connecting points of equal elevation Index contour lines are darker and have an elevation associated with it The ‘Contour Interval’ is the elevation distance between two adjacent lines Scales are usually shown in inches or feet

14. Mt. Capulin Capulin Volcano National Monument, located in northeastern New Mexico, was designated a U.S. National Monument on August 9, 1916.New MexicoU.S. National Monument It is a well-preserved, relatively young (58,000 to 62,000 years old), symmetrical cinder cone. It rises steeply from the surrounding grassland plains to an elevation of 8,182 feet above sea level. The irregular rim of the crater is about a mile in circumference and the crater about 400 feet deep.