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General Questions To Pose While Exploring Topographic Maps

By Educational Resources

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  • In what part of the USA is the area depicted on the map located?
  • In which state is this map located?
  • In what part of the state is this map located?
  • What is the latitude and longitude of the southeast corner of the map?
  • What is the distance, in kilometers and miles, from east to west across the map?
  • What is the distance, in kilometers and miles, from east to west across the map?
  • What is the largest town on the map? Estimate its population.
  • Describe the reasons behind your population estimate.
  • What is the nature of the topography in this area? Flat? Rolling? Sharp? Mixed? Other?
  • Given what you know about the state, is the topography of this area what you expected? Why or why not?
  • What is the range of elevation in this area? (Highest and lowest points)
  • Is the elevation in feet or meters?
  • What is the average elevation in this area? Does the highest point on the map have a name? What is it?
  • Which direction(s) do the rivers flow in this area? Why?
  • Describe the climate of this area. Include a description of the winds, sunshine, rainfall, and snowfall. What physical and cultural (human-made) map features give clues about the climate?
  • Is this area subject to a natural hazard? If so, what would be the most likely natural hazards to pose a threat to this area?
  • Is the threat of these natural hazards high, moderate, or low? Take into account the location of the area and the physical features found there.
  • What is the nature of the settlement pattern in this area? Is it concentrated, linear, or diffuse?
  • What topographic, climatic, hazard-related, or other constraints affect the settlement pattern?
  • What are the things that people do in this area for work? What kind of jobs do they have?
  • What is the most common occupation found here?
  • What is the predominant economic activity in this area, and what map features give clues about this activity?
  • What physical and cultural (human-made) map features give clues about what people do in this area for work?
  • What are the things that people do in this area for recreation?
  • What is the most common recreational activity in this area?
  • What physical and cultural (human-made) map features give clues about what people do in this area for fun and recreation?