My name is Charles Hudson and I'm a student at Emporia State University and this was written as an assignment in my Earth Science lab class. I'm not an expert on topography so please do not use this for any references. On this web page I will introduce the term topography and describe topographic maps and how to distinguish items on the maps.

The information that below was taken from my lab textbook:   Johnston, P., Aber, S., & Ye, H. (1996). Introduction to earth science lab. Edina, MN: Burgess International Publishing.

Topographic maps show the shape of the lands surface and contour lines; which will be discussed on the content page.

  In order to understand topographic maps, it is important to know about contour, township, and range lines. 

"Contour lines enable you to find an elevation on a topographic map, but to describe a specific location, latitude-longitude or township-range lines are used" (Johnston, Aber & Ye, 1996. p. 58).

"Topographic maps not only provide location and elevation information, but can also show geomorphic features, such as those created by streams or glaciers" (Johnston, Aber, & Ye 1996, p 65).

Return to Chuck's Main Page or Chuck's Content Page.