Height clues on a topographical map
We will discuss the following four ways of showing height on a map:
Contour lines
Spot heights
Benchmarks
Trigonometric beacons
Contour Lines
Contour lines are brown lines on a topographic map. Each contour line connects places that are the same height above sea level. The contour interval is 20 meters on 1:50 000 topographic maps. Not every contour line is numbered. Every fifth contour line is shaded darker. These darker contour lines show the height 100 meters apart. By counting the darker lines, we can calculate the height of the hill or mountain. The numbers on the contour lines help you see if a slope is sloping up or down.
Spot heights
Spot heights show the exact height of a place in metres, as a number next to a dot, marked on the map. Spot heights on a map are often shown on top of hills.
Trigonometric Beacons
Also known as 'trig' beacons - are like spot heights. They show points on the land for which an exact height is known. Trig beacons are marked by a little triangle. The number gives the height as a decimal, for example 1 003.1. This place is 1003 metres and 10 centimetres above sea level.The number in italics is the number of the trig beacon.
Trig beacons in real life
The whole of South Africa is mapped using trig beacons. They are actual beacons that can be found in real life.
Benchmarks
Like spot heights and trig beacons, benchmarks are also points for which the exact height is known. Benchmarks are shown on maps as a number and arrow, usually next to the road. Benchmarks show height in metres as decimals, for example 436.1.
VIDEO: height clues on a map.
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Height clues on a topographical map
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Created on February 13, 2021
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Transcript
Height clues on a topographical map
We will discuss the following four ways of showing height on a map:
Contour lines
Spot heights
Benchmarks
Trigonometric beacons
Contour Lines
Contour lines are brown lines on a topographic map. Each contour line connects places that are the same height above sea level. The contour interval is 20 meters on 1:50 000 topographic maps. Not every contour line is numbered. Every fifth contour line is shaded darker. These darker contour lines show the height 100 meters apart. By counting the darker lines, we can calculate the height of the hill or mountain. The numbers on the contour lines help you see if a slope is sloping up or down.
Spot heights
Spot heights show the exact height of a place in metres, as a number next to a dot, marked on the map. Spot heights on a map are often shown on top of hills.
Trigonometric Beacons
Also known as 'trig' beacons - are like spot heights. They show points on the land for which an exact height is known. Trig beacons are marked by a little triangle. The number gives the height as a decimal, for example 1 003.1. This place is 1003 metres and 10 centimetres above sea level.The number in italics is the number of the trig beacon.
Trig beacons in real life
The whole of South Africa is mapped using trig beacons. They are actual beacons that can be found in real life.
Benchmarks
Like spot heights and trig beacons, benchmarks are also points for which the exact height is known. Benchmarks are shown on maps as a number and arrow, usually next to the road. Benchmarks show height in metres as decimals, for example 436.1.
VIDEO: height clues on a map.
THANKS!
keep learning