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Mapwork Worksheet Grade 9
Geography (Grey Boys High School)
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MAPWORK
NOTES
GRADE 9
GREY HIGH
NAME: ___________________________________ GR 9: ______
TEACHERS MONOGRAM: _________
2025
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MAPWORK
1. CONTOUR LINES
CONCEPT OF CONTOURS
Lines showing places of equal height above sea level
Show the shape of landscape features as well as how high the features are
Numbers are added to the contour lines to show their height above sea level.
The contour interval is the difference in height between any two contours
Contour intervals are indicated at the bottom of a topographical / orthophoto
map in metres / feet
On a coloured topographical map they are indicated in brown.
Every 5th line is dark brown
Contour lines NEVER intersect / cross but it can run together or touch where
cliffs are formed.
Every consecutive line follows the previous one in value.
To work out the value of an unmarked contour, Use the following to work it out
i.e. contour interval, direction numbers point (i.e. top of a number “points”
towards a higher value.)
ACTIVITY 1
a. What is the contour interval for map 1 (in metres)? ______
b. Fill in the contour heights on the contours between 700m & 800 m on map 2.
c. Use a hi-liter to indicate the cliff on contour map 3.
d. Fill in the contour heights on the contour lines in map 4.
Map 1 Map 2 Map 3
Map 4
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Activity 2 How contour lines show landscape features : Build a model
1. Create a landform feature using clay supplied
2. Use a ruler to create a “depth marker”
3. Draw contour lines around your landform every 0,5cm
4. Look at your landform from above and the side
5. Draw a side view of your landform in the space below
6. Below the side view draw a top view showing the contour lines
7. Label the height of each contour line
8. On your diagram use a spot height (dot with a height next to it) to represent
the highest point of your landform.
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CONTOUR PATTERNS & LANDSCAPE FEATURES
Contours provide visual ideas of the general terrain / features of the landscape
A Slopes
Gradient: Describes the steepness of a slop i.e. the angle of a slope compared
to the horizontal
Gentle slope Steep slope Uniform slope
Contour lines far Contour lines close Contour lines equal
apart distance apart
ACTIVITY 3
a) On the map draw a line from the 80m contour line across the contours to
indicate a STEEP SLOPE (mark it A to B)
b) On the map draw a line from the 80m contour line across the contours to
indicate a GENTLE SLOPE (mark it C to D)
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The diagram below represents a contour map of a hill. Answer the questions that
follow.
1. What is the height of the highest contour line
on this map? ___________
2. The highest point on this map is shown by a
dot (spot height). Estimate how high this
point is. _______________
3. What is the altitude of point A? __________
4. If you walked from A to B would you be going
uphill or downhill? _______________
5. Explain how you found your answer to
question 4.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
6. Why would it be more difficult to walk from B to C than it had been to walk from A
to B? __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
B RIVER VALLEYS & SPURS
Valley
Lower land between hills or mountains
in which a river often flows
Spur
Finger-like ridge of land stretching out
from a mountain often separating valley
On the contour map indicate the following :
a) River Valley (in blue)
b) Spur (in red)
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How contour lines show a VALLEY and a SPUR on a map.
Contour line form a V-shape pattern
VALLEY: V-shape points UP towards high ground i.e. numbers get high
towards point of V (top of valley). May be a river / stream in middle of valley
SPUR: V-shape points DOWN towards low ground i.e. numbers point from high
to low. Contours often more rounded shape
May be a river / stream in middle of valley
ACTIVITY 4
1. Look at the models of
landscape features labelled
A-C and the contour
patterns labelled 1-3. Match
each contour pattern with
the landscape feature it
represents
A__________
B__________
C__________
2. Add the following to the contour map alongside
colour in all the land that is above 420m
Write down the contour interval for this map below
the map
Use a BLUE pen & draw a line along the 4 valleys
Use a RED pen and draw a line along the 4 spurs
2. ORTHOPHOTO MAPS 1: 10 000
Vertical Aerial Photographs (revision gr 8)
Vertical aerial photographs are more useful to
cartographers because they show earth’s surface
from same angle as a map.
An orthophoto map is a vertical aerial photograph that
has been modified to give it some features of a map
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ACTIVITY 5
Refer to the maps in Oxford text book page 15 & 16 and answer the
following questions.
A. Refer to the map of Umhlanga rocks
1. How can you tell the orthophoto map is a vertical aerial photograph?
2. Give the approximate height of the bridge on Lighthouse road (passes over
freeway)
B. Refer to the map of Cathedral Peak
1. Explain how you can tell the slopes in the area are very steep.
2. Name the river that flows through the area.
3. Identify each of the features A, B & C as a spur or a valley.
4. Give the approximate height of C.
ANSWERS A
1. ______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
_____________________
2. ______________________________
_______
ANSWERS B
1. ______________________________
______________________________
______________
2. ______________________________
_______
3. A
______________________________
_____
B
______________________________
_____
C
______________________________
_____
4. 8
______________________________
______
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How to study or interpret an aerial or orthophoto map
Size of objects Shape of Objects
• Use scale to calculate e.g. 1: 10 000 Man Made phenomena
Rivers • buildings, ploughed land, roads, railway
lines, dam walls
• Wide, dark grey lines with curves Natural phenomena
where they meander.
• Other side streams connect • mountains, rivers, forest, grasslands
• V-shape of a side stream
connection will ALWAYS point Railway lines
down stream and can be used to • Small dark grey lines & gradual
determine direction of flow curves
• Gradually connect with other lines
Roads Tints: Black, white and grey tints
• Broad grey lines • can be seen on aerial pictures
• National roads: often straight / no • Depends on light reflected by
sharp curves photographed object
• Secondary roads: narrower & • Light colours appear light grey
curves • Dark colours as shades of darker
grey
Shadows • Tint of water: clear water appears
darker than muddy water as muddy
• Aerial photos normally taken water reflects more sunlight
between 10:00 and 14:00 • Humid soil appears darker than
when shadows are shortest sandy soil
• Shadows help identify objects
• Shadows that fall outwards Texture of objects
indicate a higher area e.g.
hillside, mountain, high • General impression the object makes
building and can be described as smooth, fine,
• Shadows falling inward course, rough or dotted
indicate lower lying area e.g. • Cultivated land & water = fine &
riverbeds and excavations smooth
• Shrubs & forest = dotted
• Uninhabited mountainous areas =
rough
Patterns
• Diffused pattern e.g. bushveld
• Linear pattern e.g. orchards or vineyards
• Buildings & streets = typical urban settlement pattern
• Older CBD’s = grid pattern
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• Newer residential = concentric patterns
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Vegetation
• Natural vegetation i.e forests & grasslands. Diverse pattern. Trees usually
have dark tints
• Planted trees & agricultural crops: appear as straight lines. Tint of cultivated
lands depends on height of plants e.g. Tall plants will appear darker than fields
with small plants as tall plants absorb more sunlight than the small ones.
Cultivated land often has patchwork appears of dark and light tints.
3. TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS 1:50 000
MAP SYMBOLS
Maps use symbols to show NATURAL & CONSTRUCTED features
NATURAL FEATURES
CONSTRUCTED FEATURES
Relief : shape of land e.g. hills, valleys, cliffs
Man-made features e.g.
Drainage: rivers, lakes
Roads, buildings, towns,
Vegetation: forests, plantations, orchards,
farmlands, railways, power
croplands
lines, recreation ground
ACTIVITY 6
Study the maps below and answer the questions. Write the answers next to the
questions
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HOW HEIGHT IS SHOWN ON TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
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HOW HEIGHT IS SHOWN ON TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
ACTIVITY 7
Complete the answers next to the question. Use the map below of Parys
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CONTOUR PATTERNS (see earlier notes)
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Activity 8
Refer to Oxford text book. Page 15, activity 9. Complete in space below.
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SCALE (revision grade 8)
Scale is used to calculate distance/area
ACTIVITY 9
Oxford text book page 19 activity 7
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
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CO-ORDINATES (Revision grade 8)
ACTIVITY 10
Write your answers next to the questions below.
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DIRECTION
Direction indicates the position of one place in relationship to another using the 16
Cardinal points of a compass
Direction is given as the direction you are moving TOWARDS
B
A
ACTIVITY 10
Give the direction from:
Ship in left corner to the shark fin labelled A.
____________
Treasure chest to the tree labelled B. _______
TRUE BEARING
More accurate way of indicating direction
using degrees.
Expressed as an ANGLE measured
Clockwise from True North 0°.
Using a protractor.
ACTIVITY 11
Calculate the True bearing from A to B _____________________
Calculate the True bearing from B to A _____________________
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GRADIENT
Gives the average steepness of a slope
ACTIVITY 12
Always show each step i.e. how you
get the VH and the HD and the
conversions.
Do activity 12 question 1 as a worked
memo with teacher.
ANSWERS ACT 12
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