Topographic Map Legend

Topographic Map Legend. Contours are imag-inary lines that join points of equal elevation on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface, such as mean sea level. The distinctive character-istic of a topographic map is that the shape of the Earth's surface is shown by contour lines. United States Geologic Service (USGS) Topographic Map Key (Legend) Interpreting the colored lines, areas and other symbols is necessary in using the topographic maps. In general these are the major color categories used on USGS topo maps. Trails and symbols are clearly shown on USDA Forest Service maps. Instructions: Use this Fact Sheet to teach students about topographic map symbols. Order paper maps for individual national forests using the online USGS Store. Related Content Publications Topographic map symbols mapis a representation of the Earth, or part of it.

Topographic Map Legend. The location, topography, nearby roads and trails around Council Bluffs (City) can be seen in the map layers above. It shows the relative distance of the map to the physical world. If you pull the handle in the legend pop-up upwards, the legend will be enlarged. For example, individual houses may be shown as small black squares. A map's scale is typically represented in inches on American maps. Topographic Map Legend.

United States Geologic Service (USGS) Topographic Map Key (Legend) Interpreting the colored lines, areas and other symbols is necessary in using the topographic maps.

This includes a short summary of data sources and data currency.

Topographic Map Legend. It shows the relative distance of the map to the physical world. Topographic maps usually show a geographic graticule and a coordinate grid, so you can determine relative and absolute positions of mapped features. Map legend delineating all possible features depicted on a topographic map., Full descriptions of each map feature type, including an image of each. Get Topo Maps Current US Topos and historical topographic maps are available as digital files or printed to order. Since each map is unique, placement of the legend and symbolization might vary from map to map.

Topographic Map Legend.