Topic of the day: Topographic Maps : Outdoors 101
Topic of the day: Topographic Maps
Topographic Maps, also known as "Topo Maps", are detailed maps identifying geographical formations in relation to an area's relative position & elevation.
Whether you are planning a hiking trip, a fishing trip, or even designing a cabin in the mountains, learning how to read a topo map can greatly help you visualize the terrain of the area to plan a route or pick a site that best suites your needs.
A great way to explain how a topographic map works is by imagining you are drawing a map of a mountain, on a piece of paper, from above.
First, circle the very tip top of the mountain. That is your highest point of elevation. Then make another circle around the previous circle, which shows that the mountain is dropping in elevation, and repeat. As the circles continue to repeat after each other, and the spacing is getting larger, you are showing that the mountain is dropping in elevation and visually identifying the geographical terrain from the top to the base of the mountain.
Some details that a topographic map can help you identify include:
- Your relative elevation
- The steepness of trails, cliffs, or campsites
- Areas most likely for a water source
- Areas to avoid flash flooding, mudslides, and avalanches
Some quick tips identifying how to read a Topo map:
- Every point of the same contour line has the same elevation.
- One side of a contour line is uphill and one is downhill.
- Contour lines close to form a circle (or run off the side of the map). The area inside the circle is almost always higher than the contour line.
- Contour lines are drawn close together on steep ground and farther apart on flat ground.
For more information, please visit the US National Park Service website for short articles explaining the maps in detail.
Hope this helps! Be safe & happy adventures!