MAP SCALE 2

FOR YOUR NOTEBOOK:

Lesson 5:  Map Scale 2

Contour Mapping Vocabulary:

1. Contour Mapping - using lines to represent height intervals of the landscape.  

2. Contour Lines - Lines on a topographic map that represent equal elevation.  They also show intervals of elevation.  The closer together, the steeper the slope of the surface.

3. Topographic Map - A representation of the geographical features of a region.  It takes 2D features of a map into 3D.

4. Map Scale - Used to give you real world distances when looking at the map!  You made these for your room.

5. Contour Interval - a numeric value that shows the vertical distance from one contour line to another.

6. Index Contour Lines - Darker contour lines that help map readers see elevation differences faster.  (It's like counting by 5s instead of 1s)

The Rules of Contour Mapping:

1. Rule 1:  Every section of the same contour line is at the exact same elevation.

2. Rule 2:  Contour lines separate uphill from downhill.

3. Rule 3:  Contour lines do not touch each other unless there is a vertical drop.

4. Rule 4:  Contour lines can be darker than other contour lines.  Sometimes map creators mark every 5th contour line as darker.  It's known as an INDEX contour line.

5. Rule 5:   The closer together the lines are, the steeper the area.

​