5 points

Reading Topos

Data Sheet

Write the answers in the space provided. Each space is worth 2 points.

1.______

2.______

3.______

4.______5.______

6.SE.______

SW.______

NW.______

NE.______

7.______

8.______9.______

10.______11.______

12.______13.______

14.______15.______

16.______17.______

18______19.______

20.______21.______

22.______23.______

24.a.______feetb.______kilometers

25.______26.______

27.______28.______

29.______30.______

31.______32.______

33.______34.______

35.______SHOW YOUR WORK!

36.______

37.______

38.______

39.______

40.______

41.______

42.______

43.______

44.______

45.______

Lab #9Reading Topos

INTRODUCTION: Please read this as it contains information required to perform the lab and material that may be tested.

Topographic maps (topos) are 2-dimensional representations of 3 dimensional landscapes. Topos show relief (differences in elevation) using contour lines. Each line represents a specific elevation and the difference between two lines is called the contour interval. The interval remains constant throughout the entire map.

Topographic maps can be used to calculate elevations, determine the steepness of slopes as well as locating features, calculating distances and planning routes. Using the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania map, many features of the map will be located, distances and slopes will be calculated and coordinate systems will be used.

Procedure:

The Map's Margin

1.Write down the department of the government that prints the map. It can be found in the top left margin of the map.

2.Write down the department of the government that drew the map. This can be found in the top center margin of the map.

3.Please record the name, state and number of degrees. The top right margin contains the name of the map; state and how many minutes of latitude and longitude are on the map.

4.Draw the symbol for a U.S. Route. The bottom right margin shows road classifications.

5.Find a U.S. Route on the map and write its number.

6.List the latitude and longitude of the four corners of the map. The bottom right corner also has information on other maps covering this area, the name of the area, the year the map was printed and codes numbers of the map. N4015-W7645/15 means that the bottom right corner of this map is 40o15' North latitude; 76o45' West longitude and has 15 minutes of latitude and longitude.

7.Describe where this map is located in Pennsylvania (NW, central, etc.?). The bottom margin shows a state map and where this map is located within the state.

8.How many degrees of magnetic declination are there on the Harrisburg map? A small arrow or line with a star shows the directions on the map. GN means grid north or latitudinal north and MN means magnetic north or where your compass would actually point. The difference between these two is called the magnetic declination and is given in degrees and mils.

9.In what year was this map field checked? The bottom left margin has more detailed information about the map.

Colors:

10.The mountains are fairly undeveloped and covered with trees. What color is used to represent forested land?

11.What color is used to represent any type of water?

12.What color is used to represent heavily populated areas such as downtown Harrisburg?

13.How is an orchard represented on the map? Between Second and Third Mountains is an orchard near Stone Glen.

Map Symbols

14.Draw the symbol for a school. In the city of Harrisburg (in pink) there are many schools. Many have their name listed (i.e. Melrose Sch.).

15.Draw the symbol for a church.

16.Draw the symbol for railroad tracks.

17.Draw the symbol for a cemetery (i.e. Lincoln Cem.).

18.Draw the symbol for a mine. About 2 inches north of the "H" in the word Harrisburg in downtown is a swimming pool. Just west of the word “pool” is a mine.

Water

19.Which way does the Susquehanna flow? Use compass directions. Check the shoreline benchmark to find out which way is down hill.

20.Which direction does Stony Creek flow? Stony Creek is between Second and Third Mountain. Look to see which way the contour lines bend as the cross the creek. This is easier to see near the eastern end of the map.

Distances

21.Write the ratio given after the word "scale" on this map. The scale of the map is given in the center of the bottom margin.

22.How long a distance on earth, in inches, would 2 inches on the map represent? A scale of 1:62500 means that 1 inch on the map equals 62,500 inches on the earth, which is nearly a mile (1 mile = 63,360 inches). One centimeter on the map equals 62,500 centimeters on earth; in fact, one of anything on the map equals 62,500 of those on earth.

23.How long is Taylor Bridge (in miles) from shore to shore? Use the graphical scale. Note that zero is not at the left end of the scale. The first mile on the left is divided into tenths. Use some scrap paper or the edge of this lab to mark the distance, then compare it to the map scale. You can estimate to the hundredth place.

24.How long is Taylor Bridge (in feet and kilometers) from shore to shore?

25.How far is it from the flag on William Penn High School to the flag on Central Dauphin High School?

26.How far is it from the edge of the map to Shellsville along the William Penn Highway (U.S. Route 22)? This can be found in red along the eastern map border.

Elevations

27.What is the contour interval of this map? This can be found below the map scale.

28.What is the elevation of the WHP TV tower atop the eastern half of Blue Mountain? Estimate to the nearest foot. Answers should not end in a zero. The TV tower is the little circle near the words "TV Tower. Each brown contour line equals 20 feet of elevation. The hundreds lines (i.e. 200, 300, 400) are darker; these are called index contours. They make it easier to count when the lines are closer together.

29.How high is the WCMB TV Tower?

30.How high is the benchmark, on the shore of the Susquehanna River, near the southeast end of the town of Dauphin.

Slopes

31.What is the distance along the dashed line from the 500-foot contour line near the Harrisburg Sportsman Club to the top of Blue Mountain? Measure to the nearest tenth of a mile.

32.Estimate the highest elevation of Blue Mountain along the dashed line from the previous question.

33.What is the change in elevation from the 500-foot contour to the top of Blue Mountain along the dashed line? Subtract 500 from the answer in the previous question.

34.Calculate the slope along the dashed line from the 500-foot contour line near the Harrisburg Sportsman Club to the top of Blue Mountain. Use your answers from questions #32 and #30 and the following formula from the Earth Science Reference Tables and Charts:

Change in elevation (#33)

slope or gradient = ------

change in distance (#31)

35.What is the slope along the dashed line between the "I" and the "N" of Blue Mountain, from where it intersects another dashed line, northwest to the medium duty road. SHOW YOUR WORK.

Latitude and Longitudes

36.What is the latitude and longitude of the reference cross between Paxton and the Harrisburg Sportsman Club? Answers should be to the nearest minute. Use the plastic overlay provided by the teacher. Place the overlay so that it is lined up at the bottom right corner of the map. Notice the top left corner of the grid on the overlay touches the reference cross. Each box is one minute of latitude and one minute of longitude. Count up and over from the bottom right corner to get the latitude and longitude of the reference cross.

37.Find the latitude and longitude of the reference cross near the "M" in Mountain on Third Mountain.

38.Find the latitude and longitude of the reference cross near the "T" in Peters on Peters Mountain.

39.Find the latitude and longitude of the reference cross near the Rockville Bridge in the Susquehanna River.

40.Find the latitude and longitude where the telephone line crosses the 660-foot contour line on the south side of Third Mountain near Ellendale Forge.

Finding Your Way Around

41.What direction would you have to travel to go from Rutherford Heights to Linglestown?

42.What routes and directions would you need to drive to go from Glenvale Church (between Blue and Cove Mountains) to the Community Chapel between Cove and Perdix?

43.What routes and directions would you need to go from William Penn High School to the drive-in theater in Paxtonia?

44.What routes and directions would you have to travel to get from Linglestown to Fort Hunter (on the river)?

45.By canoe, how would you get from the covered bridge in Good Hope Mills to the Harrisburg Country Club near Fort Hunter? Include names and directions.

Next time you travel to Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach or Florida via Harrisburg, remember this map!