Converting a Mountain Profile to a Contour Map

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Converting a Mountain Profile to a Contour Map
By Mr. Tourguide
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The Contour Map

• Topographic maps are maps that show changes in
  elevation of the Earths surface.
• An elevation line, called a contour line, marks
  each elevation.
• The distance between each contour line is a
  constant value of measurement in feet or meters
  and is called a contour interval.
• Topographic maps use lines, symbols, and colors
  to show changes in elevation and surface features
  of the Earth.

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• A silhouette of this mountain will be converted
  into a contour map one step at a time.
• Look at the elevations on the right and try to
  imagine a line, or slice, drawn across the
  picture for elevation measurement.
• Each line is separated by a contour measurement
  of 25 feet.

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• The mountain is beginning to turn toward you.
• We will keep flipping it over until you see it
  from directly above.
• Notice the contour lines on the left beginning to
  tilt with the tilt of our mountains.

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• Flip it over some more.
• Notice the contour lines, or elevation lines,
  beginning to tilt even more.

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• Flip it some more.

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• Almost there, just a little more.
• Notice the contour lines flattening against the
  paper.

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• Takes muscles to flip a mountain.
• Add some more tilt, and ..

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• We have a Contour or Topographic Map.
• This map is also a relief (shaded) map which
  helps to visualize the valleys. Normally, you
  will only have the contour lines with numeric
  measurements and without the shading.

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• The figure below has a profile with contour
  elevation lines (A-D) on the left of 20 feet
  separation.
• Plate E, the topographic map, is what you will
  need to interpret and change back into a profile.

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• Another contour map.
• Notice the gradient of the stream. The flow is
  moving from the hills down toward you.

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• Look at how the contour lines on the map cross
  the stream.

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• Contours always cross a stream so that the tip of
  the V points up stream toward the source.
• The V opens up into the valley down stream.

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• Another Example.

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• This concludes our brief
• Pro Tours of
• Con-tours.