Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Recreation/Orienteering

1. Explain what a topographic map is, what you expect to find on it, and three uses for it.

Topographic maps are also commonly called contour maps or "topo maps." Topographic maps conventionally show topography, or land contours, by means of contour lines. Contour lines are curves that connect contiguous points of the same altitude. In other words, every point on the marked line of 100 m elevation is 100 m above mean sea level.

Other than showing elevation via the contours, you can also expect a topographic map to show any important landmarks, such as rivers, lakes, and roads. They will often also show railroad tracks and major power lines (and their towers). Power lines are especially handy because the towers are visible from great distances and each represents a point on a map (whereas a road or river would represent a curved line). These attributes make them ideal for pinpointing position.

Topographic maps have many uses, letting a competent user determine any of the following:

• Where he is.
• How to get where he wants to go.
• What the terrain is like in a given area (steepness, for example).
• Where a river comes from and goes to.
• The route a hiking trail follows.
• The location of campsites.
• The distance between to points.
• Elevation of a mountaintop.
• Latitude and longitude of any point on the map.
• What areas may be susceptible to avalanches or flooding.