Name: ___________________________________Period____Date________________
Using Topographic Maps
Procedure
This lab has three parts: (1) Making a contour map of Turtle Island, an imaginary island with known spot
elevations, (2) constructing a topographic profile across Turtle Island, and (3) examining some published
quadrangle maps and answering questions about them.
Materials and Preparation
You will need a pencil (with an eraser) and a calculator. Graph paper for your cross-section will be provided to
you.
Making a Contour Map of Turtle Island
A map of Turtle Island on a following page shows spot elevations (in meters) representing ground level. The zero
points are water, so make sure to keep your islands shoreline above the zero elevation. Keeping the “Rules of
Contour Lines” in mind, draw in and label the contours using a contour interval of 10 meters.
Making a Topographic Profile
Topographic profiles are scaled drawings depicting the elevation of the land surface along some particular line.
Figure 1-10 from the background reading, for example, is a topographic profile that runs EW through the campus
of Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. A drumlin (a glacial landform that appears as a streamlined
hill) is bisected by the profile line.
If the vertical scale of the profile is the same as that of the map, the profile has no vertical exaggeration. Often,
however, it is advantageous to use a scale that “stretches” or exaggerates the vertical dimension in order to
emphasize topographic features. Figure 2 shows both an unexaggerated and an exaggerated profile. The
vertical exaggeration can be calculated from the vertical and horizontal scales. If the horizontal scale is 1:1000
and the vertical scale is 1:50, then the vertical exaggeration is 20X
VerticalEx aggeration 
Vertical _Scale
1 / 50

 20 X
Horizontal _ Scale 1 / 1000
After you have made your contour map of Turtle Island, follow the instructions below to make a topographic profile
of the A-A’ section line marked on your Turtle Island map. We will also go over this in detail in Lab. Be sure to
ask questions so that you understand what it is we are doing. To review:
1. Lay a piece of scrap paper along the line of section. Mark the two ends of the section line.
2. At each point where a contour line crosses the section, make a small mark on you scrap paper and label it
with the elevation of the contour line.
3. Lay your scrap paper along the horizontal axis of the topographic profile. Transfer your contour intersection
points and elevations to this axis.
4. Using the contour value, plot a point at the correct elevation above each of your horizontal axis marks, then
connect these points with a smooth line to create the profile.
Plot your section on the topographic profile grid. Use the horizontal and vertical scales of this grid to calculate the
vertical exaggeration of this profile.
Name: ___________________________________Period____Date________________
Quadrangle Maps
You have been provided with several different quadrangle maps. View the map at your table, paying particular
attention to the different symbology and landscapes. Answer the following questions based on the maps
available to you and your group.
Map 1: Lopez Point 7.5 minute quad, California
1. What is the ratio scale for this particular map?
2. Estimate the north-south and east-west dimension (true length) of this quadrangle in
kilometers. ______________________. Calculate its area in square kilometers.
3. Draw the north arrows at the bottom of the map below. Label the magnetic and true north arrows.
4. What is the magnetic declination of this area? _________________________ Does a compass needle point
east or west of true north?
5. What is the contour interval on this map (the difference between individual contour lines)? Include units.
What is the reference contour interval (distance between darker contour lines)? Include units.
6. To figure out which way a stream (blue line) flows, look for the V of the contour line. The point of the V points
uphill. Why?
7. Name one of the rivers/streams located within your map’s area. Which way is this stream flowing, by
compass direction within a given township? Be specific. Name a labeled landmark near where you are
identifying the stream direction, or give latitude and longitude of the location below.
Name: ___________________________________Period____Date________________
Now, using an overhad pen, outline this stream’s ‘watershed.” A watershed is the drainage area of the stream. If
a drop of water falls within the watershed, it will eventually flow into the stream (if it doesn’t evaporate or get taken
up by a plant, that is). Do this by outlining the high points (ridge lines) between two streams. Before you move
on, have your teacher check your work and initial here:
______________Teacher initials.
8. The term “relief” is used to describe the difference between the highest and lowest elevations in an area.
What is the total relief in the quadrangle? Not all topographic lines are labeled with elevation, as you can see.
Look carefully around what you think is the highest point to find either a closed circle/oval for a mountain
peak, or an X with an elevation number, as well as at the edges of the map. Show calculations and give units
for your answer.
9. What do the small black (or purple) polygon symbols represent?
10. Are there any roads on your map?________ Use the laminated hanout at your table showing map symbols.
Draw one of the road types you see on your map, and give the description of this type of road from the key.
11. Draw a topographic profile from the ocean directly east, as far as your graph paper will go. Give the starting
latitude and longitude of your profile on the graph paper. Use the vertical exaggeration your teacher specifies
on the board for your profile.
12. Imagine you are standing at the edge of the Pacific Ocean and looking away from the water on this map.
Specify a location like this, and describe both where you are on the map, AND what you see. Use complete
sentences or a labeled drawing.
Now, go to Google Earth and look at the terrain of this location using satellite imagery. Compare what you
thought the terrain looked like (based on the topographic map) to that of the imagery on Google Earth. How do
these differ?
Name: ___________________________________Period____Date________________
Map 2: Brainerd, 7.5 minute quadrangle, Minnesota
13. What is the year for the topographic map? ______________
14. What is the magnetic declination for this map?__________________
15. What are the blue hash maked symbols showing ?
What does the background color under these symbols indicate?
16. Which direction is Buffalo creek flowing?
How do you know this? Explain in words and with a simple, labeled drawing.
17. What is the relief on this map (Show work. Give units.)?
18. If you drew a topographic profile of this map, how would it differ fromt hat of the Lopez Point map?
Explain your reasoning:
19. Which quadrangle looks to be more populated, based on the information on the map: Lopez Point or Brainerd,
MN? Explain your reasoning below:
20. How would you describe the terrain on this map? Pick a specific area on the map, describe this location, and
be as specific and descriptive as possible in your physical description based on map features. What do you
think you’d see if you were standing in this area? Use complete sentences or a labeled drawing.
Name: ___________________________________Period____Date________________
Now go to Google Earth and compare your inferences to the imagery provided for Brainerd, MN. How close were
you? Be specific in your explanation.
Map 3: 15 minute quadrangle, Snoqualmie Pass, WA
1.
Older topographic maps were issued in the 15 minute format.
a. What is the ratio scale for this map?
b. Is the 15 minute quadrangle map larger or smaller scale than the maps you looked at previously?
Explain your answer below.
2.
Describe the color patterns on this map. What is the dominant color, and what do the uncolored areas
represent?
3.
Describe the terrain on this map compared to the Lopez Point and Brainerd maps you looked at earlier. How
does this terrain differ in relief from each? What similar features do you see? What differences do you see?
Name: ___________________________________Period____Date________________
4.
Describe what you might see if you were to stand on top of Cikamin Peak and look toward Lemah mountain.
What kind of topography would you see. If you were there in the summer, do you think you would see any
snow or ice? How would you describe this place to someone who was thinking of hiking there? Would it be
hard or easy to walk to the top of Chikamin peak or Lemah mountain? Why?
5.
Now go to Google Earth and compare your inferences from the terrain to what you see on the satellite
imagery. What new things did you discover about this location that you were not able to see on the map?
What information does that map provide that the imagery does not?
Name: ___________________________________Period____Date________________