Understanding Maps

Lesson 2

Focus Questions

1. How do Crystals grow so large?

2. What can maps tell us about our world?

3. How do we use maps to describe Earth?

New Vocabulary

New Vocabulary

1. Topographic map
2. Contour Line
3. Contour Interval
4. Index Contour
5. Depression Contours
6. Geologic Maps
7. Map Legend
8. Map Scale
9. Verbal Scale
10. Graphical Scale
11. Fractional Scale

Topographic Maps

Topographic Maps

• Topographic maps – show elevation changes
• Use special lines, symbols & colors to do so
• Used for city planning & hiking

Topographic Maps

Contour Line

• Contour line - connects points of equal elevation on a topographic map.
• Can’t cross
• Close together = Steep
• Far apart = Flat

Draw theses

Topographic Maps

Contour Interval

• Contour Interval – change in elevation between contour lines

Topographic Maps

Index Contours

• Index contours –Contour lines with elevations on the line
• Darker color
• Regular increments

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Draw this

Topographic Maps

Depression Contours

• Depression Contours- Contour lines that show downward elevations
• Small little lines on downhill side
• Craters, mines, holes

Draw this

Geologic Maps

Geologic Maps

• Geologic map- show where set up & type of rocks
• geologic features
• fault lines, bedding tilt
• Colors = rock formation
• Used to infer below

surface composition

Geologic Maps

Three Dimensional Maps

• Show 3D world on a 2D map
• Support for studies

Map Legends

Map Legend

• map legend – identifies symbols on map

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Map Scales

Map Scale

• map scale - ratio between distances on a map & actual distances

Map Scales

Verbal Scale

• Verbal scales- statements used to express distance.

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Draw this

Map Scales

Graphical Scale

• Graphic scales line that represents a certain distance.
• most common

Draw this

Map Scales

Fractional Scale

• Fractional scales - express distance as a ratio between two units of the same type.

Draw this