Topographical maps employ a universal language of colours, signs, and symbols to efficiently represent diverse geographical features. Colours provide a broad classification: brown for relief, blue for water, green for vegetation, yellow for cultivated land, and red and black for human-made elements. These colour conventions quickly convey the nature of different areas on the map.
Beyond colours, a variety of signs and symbols offer more specific details. Crucially, each topographical sheet includes a legend or key that explicitly defines every colour, sign, and symbol used.
Therefore, mastering the interpretation of this visual vocabulary is essential for accurately reading and understanding the wealth of information presented on topographical maps. By learning these conventions and always consulting the legend, anyone can effectively decipher the landscape depicted.
THINK AND ANSWER
Question
If maps were only black and white, will they be difficult to read ?
Ans:
Yes, black and white maps would be harder to read. Color provides quick visual cues for different features (water, vegetation, roads), making interpretation faster and easier. Without color, you’d rely more on symbols, patterns, and shades of gray, requiring more effort and potentially leading to confusion and slower reading.
VALUES AND LIFE SKILLS
Question
Using colours and symbols is an intelligent way of providing information. It helps cartographers to make beautiful and easy-to-read maps.
Can you think of a situation where you can use this method in your day-to-day life ?
Ans:
I can use colors and symbols to organize and present complex information clearly. For example, when summarizing climate change impacts across India from various sources, I could use red for severe negative impacts, green for less severe areas, and symbols for specific changes like rainfall or temperature. This visual approach makes the information easier and faster to understand, similar to how cartographers use these elements on maps.
EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks
1. Mountains, hills, rivers, etc. are ______ features shown on a map.
Ans: natural
2. Roads, rail tracks, wells, etc. are ______ features on a map.
Ans: man-made
3. Contour lines on a map join points of equal _______ on the surface or the earth above or below a reference point.
Ans: height
4. The colour _______ is used to show barren land on topographical sheets.
Ans: white
5. The colour yellow is used to show ________ on topographical sheets.
Ans: cultivated land
B. Match the following
Answer:
C. Write True or False. Correct the false statements.
1. The distance between the two tracks in broad gauge is 1 m.
Ans: False.
The distance between the two tracks in broad gauge is 1.67 m.
2. A metalled road is shown by two blue lines.
Ans: False.
A metalled road is shown by two Red parallel lines.
3. Settlements can either be temporary or permanent.
Ans: True.
4. In permanent settlements, houses are build for a short period of time.
Ans: False.
In permanent settlements, houses are build for a long period of time.
5. Terrace farming is undertaken on hilly slopes.
Ans: True.
6. Land use refers to the way a piece of land is used in the area.
Ans: True.
D. Answer the following questions briefly.
Question 1.
What are topographical maps ?
Ans:
Topographical maps are detailed maps showing the shape and elevation of land using contour lines, along with other natural and human-made features represented by standardized colours, signs, and symbols explained in a legend. They offer a comprehensive view of an area’s terrain and other geographical details.
Question 2.
What is a contour line ?
Ans:
Contour lines are elevation lines on topographical maps, linking points of equal height relative to a datum (usually sea level). They depict the land’s vertical dimension; their density reveals slope gradient: tight spacing signifies steep slopes, while wide spacing indicates gradual inclines.
Question 3.
Explain why colours are used in topographical maps.
Ans:
Firstly, they act as a visual shorthand, allowing for the efficient representation of a wide array of features without cluttering the map with excessive text. Each colour is conventionally associated with a specific category of feature, making it easier and faster to interpret the map at a glance. For instance, blue consistently indicates water bodies, while green typically denotes vegetation.
Secondly, colours contribute significantly to the clarity and readability of the map. By visually distinguishing different types of features, they prevent confusion and make it simpler to differentiate between natural elements like forests and water, and human-made structures like roads and settlements. This clear visual separation enhances the user’s ability to quickly locate and understand the information they need.
Finally, the standardized use of colours across topographical maps creates a universal language. Once familiar with the colour conventions (brown for relief, blue for water, green for vegetation, yellow for cultivation, red for significant human-made features, and black for cultural details and boundaries), a map reader can interpret any topographical sheet regardless of its specific origin or the language used for labels. This standardization is vital for effective communication of geographical information
Question 4.
Name the features shown in blue, green and brown colours on a map.
Ans:
On a topographical map:
- Blue indicates water features, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans.
- Green signifies vegetation, like forests and grasslands.
- Brown represents land elevation and relief, often through contour lines showing hills and valleys.
Question 5.
How would you recognize a metalled road and an unmetalled one on a topographical map ?
Ans:
Metalled roads on topographical maps are typically shown as continuous, parallel red lines, sometimes varying in thickness to denote road size. Unmetalled roads, in contrast, are depicted as parallel red lines that are dashed or broken, clearly distinguishing them from their paved counterparts. Consulting the map’s legend is always the definitive way to confirm these symbols.
Question 6.
What do you understand by settlements ?
Ans:
Settlements are areas where people reside and engage in various activities, forming communities that can range from a few dwellings to vast urban centers. These inhabited places feature a clustering of buildings and the necessary infrastructure, such as roads and essential services, to support daily life. Within settlements, you’ll find designated zones for housing, work, trade, and social interaction, reflecting the organized nature of human habitation.
In essence, a settlement is a focal point of human activity and residence, showcasing how societies organize themselves spatially. These areas, varying significantly in size and complexity, are shaped by the needs of their inhabitants and their relationship with the surrounding environment, serving as hubs for living, working, and community life.
Question 7.
Distinguish between a temporary settlement and a permanent settlement.
Ans:
Temporary settlements are inhabited for limited durations, often linked to specific, short-term activities such as seasonal resource gathering, nomadic lifestyles, or temporary work. The dwellings are typically impermanent, constructed from readily available materials, and the settlements themselves are characterized by mobility and basic amenities. Think of nomadic herders’ camps or shelters for seasonal agricultural workers.
Permanent settlements, conversely, are designed for long-lasting habitation, with residents intending to stay for an extended period. These locations feature durable housing and more developed infrastructure, including established buildings, roads, and essential services. Permanent settlements support a stable population engaged in diverse economic activities and often possess a more intricate social organization, encompassing villages, towns, and cities intended for continuous occupancy.
E. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs.
Question 1.
How can the occupation of people be inferred directly from a topographical sheet ?
Ans:
Occupations can be inferred from topographical maps by analyzing land use and features. Extensive yellow areas with irrigation suggest agriculture. Large green areas might indicate forestry. Proximity to blue areas with settlements implies fishing. Mine or quarry symbols directly point to mining. Dense settlements near transport routes suggest trade and services, while public buildings indicate administration and services. Tourist-related features hint at tourism.
Essentially, the presence and pattern of features like cultivated land, forests, water bodies, mines, settlements, and infrastructure provide clues about the dominant economic activities and likely occupations of the people in that region. By interpreting these visual indicators, one can deduce how people interact with their environment for their livelihoods.
Question 2.
How can topographical maps help us to know about the transport and communication of an area ?
Ans:
Topographical maps illustrate transport networks through distinct symbols for metalled and unmetalled roads, railways (with stations), and navigable waterways (sometimes showing ferry crossings). The density and connectivity of these lines reveal an area’s accessibility. Communication infrastructure is indicated by symbols for post and telegraph offices and the presence of telephone/telegraph lines. The distribution and size of settlements also indirectly suggest the extent of communication networks.
By interpreting these visual cues, one can quickly grasp the available transport options and the communication facilities present in a mapped region, providing essential insights into its connectivity and development.
Question 3.
How does relief of an area affect land use ?
Ans:
Relief, the form of the land, significantly dictates land use. Steep slopes often limit farming and settlements, favoring forestry or grazing. Gentle slopes allow for more agriculture and denser habitation. Flat areas are ideal for intensive farming and large settlements, supporting extensive infrastructure, though flood risk can be a factor.
Essentially, the physical constraints and opportunities presented by the terrain determine what activities are viable and how human settlements and infrastructure develop. The shape and elevation of the land are fundamental factors influencing how we utilize and interact with our surroundings.
F. Draw a sketch map of your neighbourhood using different colours for different areas, for example, red for residential areas, green for parks and playgrounds, and yellow for commercial areas. Use symbols to mark out roads and special places like temples, post offices, old monuments, or railway stations. Make a proper key for it.
Ans:
G Picture study
Look at the symbols given here and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
What does symbols 1 and 2 show?
Ans:
Question 2.
How do the features shown by these two symbols differ?
Ans:
Based on the image you provided:
- Symbol 1 (Solid Black Square): This symbol typically represents a built-up area or a settlement, such as a village, town, or city. The solid black fill indicates a concentrated area of human habitation and construction.
- Symbol 2 (Two Outlined Squares): This symbol usually represents buildings. The outlined squares suggest individual structures rather than a large built-up area. It could indicate a group of buildings, like a small cluster of houses or a farmstead.
