Why are topographic maps useful? All topographic maps use similar symbols to show the main features of the landscape. These symbols make it easy for map readers to quickly identify the features shown in the legend or key. Topographic maps are useful for various purposes, from bushwalkers wanting to understand the landscape in which they plan to walk, to town planners and engineers needing to construct infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
FIGURE1 This is an aerial photograph of Mount Gambier, South Australia, an area with many extinct volcanoes. Lakes have formed in the craters of several volcanoes. The most famous is Blue Lake. We can see many features in the photo, but a topographic map can give us more information, especially about the shape of the landscape — its topography.
8.6.2 Showme How topographic maps help us to locate places on a map You will need: • a topographic map (see FIGURE2 ).
A topographic map can provide many observations. FIGURE2 shows Mount Gambier’s map, highlighting Blue Lake with its steep surrounding slopes. The township lies north of Blue Lake, with a railway line passing through near the civic centre and post ofýce. The town spans about 4 kilometre both east–west and north–south. The local golf club is located in the north-east. These details are noted using the legend, north arrow and scale.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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