Topographical Maps?

Question

can someone tell me what topographical maps show?

Answer 1

i believe topographical maps show the "lay of the land". Such as elevation of mountains, the depth of valleys, things like that. If you were in an airplane and looked down at the ground, it would be like looking at a topographical map. hope this helps you.

Answer 2

For a question like this, you should try doing a search for the definition of topographical map. Enter it like this in the search field:

definition "topographic map"

The second item in the search results was titled "What is a Topographic Map?" Since it was from a US Geological Survey (USGS) page, that seemed liked a good place to start.

And here's the answer:

"The distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is that the shape of the Earth's surface is shown by contour lines. Contours are imaginary lines that join points of equal elevation on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface, such as mean sea level."
http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/symbols/

JMB

Answer 3

once you do your search for and get carry of and print your map, try making an more desirable reproduction, and starting up with the bottom contour, decrease it out of the map with scissors. Then hint the fringe of the contour on the perfect map onto a chunk of cardboard, (ie: the interior of a cereal container), so as that it suits the type of the map, or a selected area of the map. continuously initiate with the bottom aspect and artwork up the the utmost aspect on the map. Glue this structure onto a base the size of the map, or chosen area of the map, you're utilising. Repeat the technique for the subsequent contour, etc, and also you've a contour kind of your map. you may upload some glue and sand, color the sand, or sawdust for timber, upload nutrients colouring sprayed on, etc....., and when you're construction a highway on your project, you may upload that to the exterior of the kind. the comprehensive ingredient seems neat in case you position it in a shoe container and upload images of the sky from a mag image to the perimeters of the container, (possibly you'll favor to diminish away one or 2 sides of the container to provide your kind the perfect publicity. the size of your kind must be an analogous because the size on the map, ie: a million:25000, and the vertical scale will be one aspect of cardboard equivalent to the contour period on your map, ie: a million aspect of cardboard = 25 ft. this can look various labor, yet you're going to understand contours more desirable proper, and also you may see how your highway suits the topography of the area depicted with the help of the map. i wish you delight on your project, and with some mind's eye you'll discover the thanks to apply this straightforward modelling procedure for most different useful initiatives, like a kind of the large Island of Hawaii operating example, or making plans the construction of a outside deck on sloping land.. L.W..