Topographic maps use a grid system of eastings and northings to locate features. Grid references specify the grid square and exact location of a feature. Compass directions and bearings are used to determine the orientation between locations. Distances on a map are measured using a ruler and scale, while curved distances use a string. Contours connect areas of equal height and indicate terrain features like hills, mountains, valleys, plateaus and ridges based on their shape and steepness.

1. Topographic
Maps

2. Easting and northing
• Easting are vertical grid lines on a topographic
map
• Northing are horizontal lines on a topographic
map

3. 4 figure grid reference
• Locates the grid square
of a feature on the
topographic map
• E.g. What is the 4 figure
grid reference of the
lower village in the
following topographic
map

4. Identify the grid
square of the
feature(Lower
village)

5. Identify the easting
and northing of the
grid square of the
feature(Easting-12,
Northing-02)

6. The grid reference is the easting followed by
the northing ; The 4 grid reference is 1202

7. 6 figure grid reference
• Locate the exact location of
a feature.
• E.g. What is the 6 figure
grid reference of the lake
at Cady Hill in the
topographic map

8. Step 1:Identify the
place of the feature

9. • Divide the grid
square into 10 equal
part

10. Using the divided grid
square, identify the grid
square of the feature

11. Identify the easting and
the northing of the
feature(Easting -3,
Northing-4)

12. The 6-figure grid reference is the easting of the
map followed by the divided line followed by
the northing of the map followed by the
northing of the divided line; The 6-figure grid
reference is 123044

13. Finding direction using a compass on a
map
• A compass have 4 points
known as compass point,
they are north, south,
east and west
• E.g. What is the direction
of the lake at the lower
village from Cady Hill

14. Draw a north arrow
on Cady hill

15. Draw a line from
Cady Hill to the lake
in the lower village

16. Look at the compass
point, the line is
pointing at
Southeast; the
direction of Cady
Hill is southeast to
the lake in the lower
village

17. Finding direction on a map using
compass bearing
• Compass bearing show the
exact degree of the
direction of a place
• E.g. What is the compass
bearing of Cady Hill from
the lake in the lower
village in the topographic
map

18. In order to find the
compass bearing,
we need a 360°
protractor or a
normal
protractor(need
more steps). First,
draw a line
connecting the
features

19. Put the protractor’s
centre point on the
feature. Ensure that
the 0 is facing
upwards

20. The compass bearing is the angle where the
line cut across the protractor; The compass
bearing of Cady hill from the lake in the lower
village is 133°

21. Measuring straight distance on a
topographic map
E.g. What is the distance
between the lakes in the
lower village in the
topographic map

22. To find the distance,
we need a ruler and
the scale of the map.
First, take a ruler to
measure the
distance between
the 2 features

23. The distance
between the 2 lakes
on the map is
1.7cm.To find the
actual distance, we
need to use the scale
on the map. The
scale is 1:100000
which mean 1cm on
this map
=100000cm(1km) in
actual distance; The
distance between
the 2 lakes in the
lower village is 1.7 X
100000=170000cm/
1.7km

24. Measuring curved distance on a
topographic map
E.g. What is the distance
of the road from the lower
village to Stowe in the
topographic map

25. In order to find
curve distance on a
topographic map,
you need a string.
First, order the
string on the curve
distance

26. Take the string off and
measure the distance by
putting it straight and
measuring the distance
with a ruler

27. Multiply the scale with
the distance to find the
actual distance; The
distance of the road
from the lower village
to Stowe is 10.8 X
100000= 1080000cm
(10.8km)

28. Contours on topographic map
• Contours are imaginary lines that connect
places of the same height above sea level
• It also show the relief of the place; If the
contours are far apart, it means gentle slope
and if it is near, it represent steep slope

29. Contour of a hill
A hill is an area of highland, has gentle slope and A hill’s contour is in circular form
a rounded peak. It is less than 600 meters high increasing at the centre

30. Contour of a mountain
A mountain is an area of highland, has steep slope and A mountain’s contour is in circular form
sharp peak. It is more than 600 meters high increasing at the centre

31. Contour of a valley
A valley is a low area in between A valley’s contour is pointing towards
highlands higher ground

32. Contour of a plateau
A plateau is an up landed area which A plateau’s contour is closely spaced as it
resemble a table top. It has steep slope is steep and the top is broad

33. Contour of a ridge
A ridge is an up landed area that is A ridge’s contour is closely spaced as
narrow and steep sided it is steep and the top is narrow

34. Summary
Easting and northing are vertical and horizontal grid lines on a topographic map
respectively.4 and 6 figure grid reference show the grid square of a place and the exact
location of a feature respectively. Identify the grid square of the feature first. Next, identify
the easting and northing of the grid square of the feature. The 4 grid reference is the easting
followed by the northing. Divide the grid square into 10 equal part. Using the divided grid
square, identify the divided grid square of the feature from 1 to 10. The 6-figure grid
reference is the eastings followed by the northings. A compass have 4 compass point. Draw a
north arrow on the feature then look at the line pointing which is the direction. Compass
bearing show the exact degree of the direction of a place. Connect the features with a line.
Put the protractor’s centre point on the feature with 0° facing upwards. The compass bearing
is the angle where the line cut across the protractor. A ruler and a string (for curved distance)
is needed for finding distance. Order the string of the curve distance(For curved distance),
next, measure the distance using a ruler, next, multiply the scale by the distance of the thing
you are measuring on the map. Contours are imaginary lines connecting places of the same
height above sea level and also show the relief of the place; Contours far away means gentle
slope and contours near to each other means steep slope. A hill and a mountain is an area of
highland. A hill less than 600 meters high, has a rounded peak and gentle slope while a hill is
more than 600 meters high, has sharp peak and steep slope. A hill and mountain have
contours in circles increasing at the centre. A valley is a low area in between highlands and
has contours pointing towards higher ground. A plateau and a ridge is an up landed area with
steep slope. A plateau has flat top while a ridge is narrow