Topographic Map Learning Activities - Free Printable

Let me carefully examine the map to answer each question.

First, I need to understand what a depression looks like on a topographic map. A depression is a low area surrounded by higher ground, and it's shown with contour lines that have tick marks (hachures) pointing inward toward the center.

Looking at the map, I see a feature labeled "D" near the left side — it has concentric contour lines with short tick marks pointing inward. That’s the classic symbol for a depression.

For question 24: “In which direction on the map is a depression found?”
→ The depression (labeled D) is in the northwest part of the map.

Now, question 25: “What is the contour interval of this map?”
The contour interval is the elevation difference between adjacent contour lines. I see labeled elevations: 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 ft. The difference between 150 and 200 is 50 ft; 200 to 250 is also 50 ft. So the contour interval is 50 feet.

Question 26: “What direction is the Blue River flowing? Support your answer using evidence from the map.”
Rivers flow downhill—from higher elevation to lower elevation. On a topographic map, contour lines bend *upstream* (toward higher ground), so the river flows opposite to the direction the contour lines point.

I see the Blue River labeled near the center-right. The contour lines near the river form a “V” shape that points toward higher elevations (e.g., toward the 200 ft and 250 ft lines). That means the river is flowing *away* from the V’s point — i.e., downstream toward lower elevations.

Looking at the elevations: near the upper part of the river (top-right), contour lines are around 200–250 ft; as the river moves down toward the bottom-left, it passes near the 150 ft line. So elevation decreases from northeast to southwest.

Also, there’s a north arrow in the top-right corner, so we can orient directions: north is up. The river starts near the northeast and flows toward the southwest.

Let me double-check by zooming in on the river and contour lines to confirm.