Topographic maps show both natural and man-made features in a region, with contour lines indicating elevation. They are useful for navigation and cultural analysis.
Topographic maps are incredibly detailed maps that provide insight into the physical features of the Earth. Technically, a topographical map includes both man-made and natural features, essentially encapsulating all visible features in a region on paper. Because topo maps are so detailed, a single map often covers a relatively small area, to ensure that no detail is overlooked. Topographic maps, as they are colloquially called, are tremendously useful in a number of fields.
The science of topography is quite ancient. Humans have been observing and cataloging the landscape around them for centuries and converting this information into useful and concise maps. Maps help people understand where they are and can be used to put the earth in context, as they abstract a region and allow people to essentially view it from above. The United States Geological Survey, among many other organizations, has devoted a great deal of time and energy to surveying and publishing topographic maps.
Most people recognize a topographic map by the characteristic contour lines. Contour lines connect points of the same elevation, creating a two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional space. Each contour line represents a different elevation, with close contour lines indicating a steep region of the Earth and broad contour lines suggesting gentler terrain. When contour lines are used in a body of water, they are called bathymetric contour lines. The map is also usually shaded to help people identify forests, cities, and so on, and features like rivers and roads are also clearly delineated.
Some call topo maps contour maps, referring to the lines that distinguish a topo map. A contour map could also be shaded to create a clear bump map. However, good topographical maps also have information about structures and major obvious landmarks, making them much more than just elevations and steepnesses. Such a map might, for example, have a gray area representing a city, with black squares indicating buildings. Notable features are often labeled, so someone can look at a map and find things like fire towers or churches. These features can be used to orient the map user in the real world.
Hikers, naturalists, and geologists all rely on topo maps to navigate the field. People who practice orienteering also often find maps useful. Topographic maps can also be used in cultural analysis, showing, for example, that early settlers in a region clearly chose regions of more uniform elevation, or that a neighbor on steep ground was suing another for his land more uniform and easily workable.
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