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The map's scale tells you how detailed your map is. A 1:24000 scale, for example, means one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches of real-world terrain. If the scale ratio had a number like 1:65,000, though, that would mean that each inch on the map covered 65,000 inches of terrain. A map with that scale covers a larger area overall—but it has ...
May 27, 2023 · 1. Use the thicker contour lines to determine the elevation. Contour lines represent paths or segments of the Earth. Topographic maps are covered in contour lines. Some contour lines are thicker, known as indexed contour lines. They have a number next to them that shows you the elevation of that path or segment. [1]
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May 1, 2019 · Lesson 4 - How to read a topographic map | U.S. Geological Survey. An official website of the United States government. Here's how you know. Files. Training Materials. What Do Maps Show? Lesson 4 - How to read a topographic map. By Educational Resources May 1, 2019. Lesson 4.pdf (25.9 KB)
The smaller the topo map scale ratio (i.e. the larger the bottom number of the ratio), the less detail the map will contain. For example, a 1:63,360 represents a larger area and therefore shows less detail than a 1:24,000 map. Orienting the map. A topographic map is oriented to true north, which is the direction of the North Pole.
There is no single document that describes all symbols used on all USGS topographic maps, but to help you read these maps, the USGS provides a variety of symbol guides. Two of particular value include the topographic map collection symbols guide, and the USGS Topographic maps home. Together, these documents form a fairly complete description of ...
Sep 15, 2024 · 1. Find the index contour: Every few contour lines, you’ll encounter a thicker one with hash marks – the index contour. Look for its elevation number printed somewhere along the line, usually outside the map’s main area. This number is your key reference point. 2.
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Feb 24, 2023 · Map scales vary greatly across different topo maps, but the most common scale is 1:24,000 for topo maps created in the United States. On a 1:24,000 scale map, 1 inch on the map is representative of 24,000 inches, or 2000 feet, on the ground. The United States Geological Survey quadrangle maps are scaled to 1:24,000.
