Topographic Maps 101

Written by Will Robertson


Continued from page 1

• Blue –water, lakes, rivers, streams, etc. The names of bodies of water and water courses are also shown in blue, as are magnetic declination and UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) grid information.

• Brown - contour lines, contour elevations, spot elevations, sand.

• Green - areas with substantial vegetation like a forest, orchard, or vineyard

• Grey - used onrepparttar back ofrepparttar 138260 map whererepparttar 138261 different symbols and a glossary of terms and abbreviations can be found.

• Orange - unpaved roads and unclassified roads and streets.

• Purple - features added torepparttar 138262 map sincerepparttar 138263 original survey. These features are based on aerial photographs but have not been checked on land.

• Red - major highways; boundaries of public land areas. A red tint is used to show an urban development.

• White - areas with little or no vegetation; also used to depict permanent snowfields and glaciers

Topographic Maps Glossary

• Bearing - Angular direction expressed in degrees.

• Contour Lines – A line on a map joining points of equal elevation. These lines are used to illustrate relief on a map.

• Distortion - The difference in shape betweenrepparttar 138264 actual curved surface ofrepparttar 138265 earth andrepparttar 138266 flat representation of a topographic map.

• Grid - A system of horizontal and vertical lines that provide coordinates for locating points on an image.

• Magnetic Declination - The angle between magnetic north and true north, expressed in degrees and minutes, east or west from true north.

• Magnetic North - The direction your compass needle points.

• Projection - A method by whichrepparttar 138267 curved shape ofrepparttar 138268 earth is represented on a flat surface, overcoming distortion.

• Relief – The variations in elevation ofrepparttar 138269 earth’s surface.

• Scale – The relationship between distance on a map andrepparttar 138270 corresponding distance onrepparttar 138271 ground. For example, a map with a scale of 1:50,000 means that 1 unit of measurement onrepparttar 138272 map equals 50,000 equivalent units onrepparttar 138273 ground.

• Topographic Map – An illustration ofrepparttar 138274 earth’s different elevation levels by means of contour lines. They present both natural and manmade features.

• True North - Direction ofrepparttar 138275 northern rotational axis ofrepparttar 138276 earth –repparttar 138277 North Pole.



Outdoors Adventurer, Writer and Webmaster Will Robertson lives with his family in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Explore the best hiking vacations and gear on the planet at: http://www.hiking-vacations-and-gear.com


Themeparks around Benidorm Spain

Written by Robert Carlton


Continued from page 1

Benidorm andrepparttar Doliphins atrepparttar 138247 Mundomar Marine Animal Park Do you enjoyrepparttar 138248 water and its interesting animal kingdom but prefer to beon land? Then Mundomar (Seaworld) Marine Animal park is your best bet. Allof us have read adventure stories about dolphins and feel that they are ourfriends, well it’s time to visit them. Here we can seerepparttar 138249 silly anticsof these adorable sea creatures close up. Or chat up a conversation with thecolourful parrots. The elegance and grace is personified withrepparttar 138250 exhibitionof flamingos, so pink! Who has not had a turtle in their home as a pet, butto see ones that you could probably ride is another surprise. But, are youstill even more curious and want to see whatrepparttar 138251 marine world is like underthe water. Well, we can all become Ariel, or Sebastian as inrepparttar 138252 Little Mermaidbook and go down into a ship and have a look aroundrepparttar 138253 sea bottom. Refreshmentsand resting places are abundant. It is open at 10:00 a.m., adults are 18 euros,children 3-12 years old 12 euros and under 3 are free. The entrance is nearthe cross roads of Avenue Mediterranean and Avenue Europe. Do not miss this amazing experience!

Between Calpe Pego and Oliva: The Vergel Park If your travels have taken you alongrepparttar 138254 coast heading towards Valencia,then it would be well worth making a stop off highway A-7 exit no. 61 passing Calpe, which indicatesrepparttar 138255 towns of Pego and Oliva and just followrepparttar 138256 signsto this safari park, found near Ondara. There are all kinds of wild animalsto be touched, fed and observed. For a little extra fun time activity, thekids can let their hair fly inrepparttar 138257 wind when riding a go kart, mini train orponies. There are even some marine animals like dolphins and sea lions. Itis a relaxing and educational day excursion forrepparttar 138258 whole family. It is onlyopen inrepparttar 138259 summer from 10:00 inrepparttar 138260 morning til 7:00 inrepparttar 138261 evening.

Looking at this huge selection of theme parks and tourist attractions around Benidorm andrepparttar 138262 Costa Blanca, you certainly will find your favourite one onyour next holidays aroundrepparttar 138263 spanish coast. Make your stay in Benidorm a complete one and visit each and every one, all unique.

With his spanish wife and daughter, the writer Robert Carlton lives in a suburb of Alicante. You can contact him via his web site at http://www.alicante-spain.com/benidorm.html


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