Students, Welcome to our Topographic Maps Unit

Now that you have learned about topographic maps and satellite views, it is time to put your new knowledge to work.  Please complete the following exploration using Google Maps and Google Earth before starting your final project.  You will be putting your answers in a word document.

Part 1: Google Maps

1.  Open the Google Maps topographic maps found at http://geology.com/topo-maps/.  You will be looking at Mt. Ranier from above.  Zoom out using the arrows at the top left corner.  Zoom out two or three times until you find Emerald Ridge, SE of Mt. Ranier.  Approximately how high is Emerald Ridge at its highest point?  Mark your answers your word document.  Note: If you get lost and want to start over at anytime just refresh your browser and you will reappear above Mt. Ranier.

2.  Next we will be traveling S-SW of Emerald Ridge to Mt. St. Helens.  It is near Spirit Lake on the map.  Once you find the lable Mt. St. Helens National Monument, zoom in to the crater.  Once you are in the crater note in your word document the elevation of the most flat part of the crater floor.  Also, do you notice any erosion that may have taken place at Mt. St. Helens?  Write your response down under number two.

3.  At what elevation is Spirit Lake?  Zoom out some from Mt. St. Helens and you should see it to the NE of Mt. St. Helens.

4.  Now, go to another state besides Washington or Oregon.  You may want to zoom way out to see the whole United States.  Now find another landform which is named and find the elevation of the landform using the contour lines on the topographic map.  List the name of your landform and its approximate elevation.

Part 2: Google Earth

1.  Using a computer with Google Earth installed, open up Google Earth.


2.  In the 'Fly To' box type in Mt. Ranier.  Once you get to Mt. Ranier, zoom out a bit.  What do you notice is different about this satellite view of Mt. Ranier vs. the view from the topographic map we saw earlier?  Write you answers on your Word document.

3.  Fly to the Grand Canyon.  Using your previous knowledge of landforms, write a brief description of how the Grand Canyon formed.