How To Label Contour Lines On A Topographic Map

What do contour lines on a topographic map show. We also make the labeled lines heavier.

Labeling Contours

Each contour is a line of equal elevation.

How to label contour lines on a topographic map. So if you walked along any contour line on a topographic map you would remain at the same elevation the entire time. The 124000 label refers to the maps scale every 1 on the map is equal to 24000 2000 on the earths surface. Using the maplex label engine and a combination of the contour placement style a label expression and a halo symbol will allow you to create labels that ladder along the contours at specified elevations.

You dont really know unless there is a label on the contour line. What we have is a contour map. Topographic maps use a combination of colors shading and contour lines to represent changes in elevation and terrain shape.

Because its impractical to mark the elevation of every contour line on the map the index contour lines are the only ones labeled. To help the user determine elevations index contours are wider. A map with contour lines on it is called a topographic map.

They show the general shape of the terrain. And how to draw contour lines. So we have contours at 0 500 1000 and so on.

Topographic maps also have a vertical scale to allow the determination of a point in three dimensional space. Therefore contours never cross. How to read and interpret topographic maps.

However if you begin to. Placing labels for contours is a common task. Which trail would you take.

Go do the quiz on labeling contours link. Studying a topo map of a familiar area is a great way to learn how to match terrain features with the contour lines on a map. Every fifth contour line is a thicker index line.

Essentially topographic maps represent the three dimensional landscape of earth within the two dimensional space of a map. In the example below weve added labels and it should be clear that its a depression. To make topographic maps easier to read every fifth contour line is an index contour.

Lines of equal elevation height above sea level. Contour lines are used to determine elevations and are lines on a map that are produced from connecting points of equal elevation elevation refers to height in feet or meters above sea level. Then all we do is label every fifth contour starting with the zero contour.

Labels such as substation or golf course topographic contours are shown in brown by lines of different widths. The painted lines are topographic contours.

Applications Making Topographic Maps