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Summaries · Grade 7 Geography › Map reading and interpretation
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Map reading and interpretation

Contour lines, gradient, scale, cross-sections and aerial photos: how to read a topographic map. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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Reading contour lines

A contour line joins points of the same height above sea level (altitude). The height difference between two lines is the contour interval. The highest point is the summit; a spot height gives one point’s exact height.

100200300100200300From the sideFrom above: contour lines
From the side and from above: the same hill.
  • Lines close together: a steep slope.
  • Lines far apart: a gentle slope or flat land.
  • In a valley the contours point towards higher ground.
  • A flat area high above sea level is a plateau; thin blue lines are rivers and streams.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Gradient and cross-sections

Gradient is the relationship between the change in height and the distance: how steep the land is. A cross-section shows the shape of the land along a line, as if you sliced through the hill. A hiker uses a topographic map to see how steep the route is.

200400600800m
Contour lines from above: each line is a height.
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Scale, direction and aerial photos

Rule

1 : 50 000 means 1 cm on the map is 50 000 cm = 500 m in reality. If 1 cm = 25 km, then 8 cm = 200 km.

  • 1 : 10 000 shows the most detail; 1 : 1 000 000 is a small-scale map.
  • A line scale stays correct when the map is enlarged or reduced.
  • The bearing is the direction from one point to another in degrees, measured clockwise from north (north = 0°, east = 90°, south = 180°, west = 270°).
  • An aerial photograph is taken from above; an orthophoto map is an aerial photo with map lines. A satellite image shows what the ground really looks like; a map shows only what you need.
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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • Contour lines join points of the same height; close together = steep, far apart = gentle or flat.
  • The contour interval is the height difference between two lines; a spot height gives one point’s exact height.
  • Gradient is height change compared with distance; a cross-section shows the shape of the land along a line.
  • 1 : 50 000 means 1 cm = 500 m. 1 : 10 000 shows the most detail; 1 : 1 000 000 is small-scale.
  • An orthophoto map is an aerial photo with map lines; a line scale stays correct when the map is enlarged.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Contour lines close together = a hard climb (steep). Far apart = an easy walk (gentle or flat).

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

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