Question

NCERT Solutions Class 11, Geography, Practical Work in Geography, Chapter-5, Topographical Maps

For success in board and competitive exams, it’s crucial to achieve a deep understanding of Class 11 Geography, and NCERT Solutions are a valuable tool. Developed by experts, these resources emphasize significant themes in each chapter while adhering to the CBSE curriculum, providing essential assistance in your academic journey.

In these NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Geography, we have discussed all types of NCERT intext questions and exercise questions.

Concepts covered in Class 11 Geography, Practical Work in Geography, Chapter-5 Topographical Maps, are-

• Methods of Relief Representation
• Contours
• Types of Slope
• Types of Landform
• Valley
• Identification of Cultural Features From Topographical Sheets
• Interpretation of Topographical Maps
• Map Interpretation Procedure

Our NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Geography offer detailed explanations to assist you with homework and assignments. By mastering the concepts in each chapter through these solutions, you'll be well-prepared to achieve top marks in your exams. Start your journey to academic success today!

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Answer 1

NCERT Solutions Class 11, Geography, Practical Work in Geography, Chapter-5, Topographical Maps

1. Answer the following questions in about 30 words:

(i) What are topographical maps?

Solution:

The maps that are drawn at relatively large scales and show important natural and cultural features such as relief, vegetation, water bodies, cultivated land, settlements, and transportation networks, etc. These maps are also known as general purpose maps.

(ii) Name the organisation which prepares the topographical maps of India.

Solution:

Topographical maps under India and Adjacent Countries Series were prepared by the Survey of India till the coming into existence of Delhi Survey Conference in 1937. Since that time, the creation of maps for the neighbouring nations has been discontinued, and the Survey of India has focused only on creating and publishing topographical maps of India in accordance with the guidelines established for the International Map Series of the World.

(iii) Which are the commonly used scales for mapping our country used by the Survey of India?

Solution:

The topographical maps of India are prepared on 1:10,00,000, 1:250,000, 1:1,25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scale providing a latitudinal and longitudinal coverage of 4° × 4°, 1° × 1°, 30 × 30, 15’ × 15’ and 5’ × 7’ 30”, respectively.

(iv) What are contours?

Solution:

Contours are imaginary lines joining places having the same elevation above mean sea level. In other words, these are imaginary lines joining all the points of equal elevation or altitude above mean sea level. They are also called level lines”.

(v) What does the spacing of contours indicate?

Solution:

A contour line is drawn to show places of equal heights. The spacing shows:

(a) Contour lines and their shapes represent the height and slope or gradient of the landform.

(b) Closely spaced contours represent steep slopes while widely spaced contours represent gentle slope.

(c) When two or more contour lines merge with each other, they represent features of vertical slopes such as cliffs or waterfalls.

(d) Two contours of different elevation usually do not cross each other.

(vi) What are conventional signs?

Solution:

There are some internally determined standard symbols, signs and colours which are used to depict settlements, buildings, roads and railways are important cultural features shown on topographical sheets. When these features are exhibited through conventional signs, symbols and colours, it becomes easy to understand and interpret the map. Conventional Signs and symbols are internationally accepted so that anyone can read any map anywhere in the world without knowing the language of that particular country.

2. Write short notes on:

(i) Contours

Solution:

(a) Contours are imaginary lines joining places having the same elevation above mean sea level. A contour map is one that uses contour lines to illustrate the landform of a particular area. The method of showing relief features through contour is very useful and versatile. The contour lines on a map provide a useful insight into the topography of an area.

(b) Earlier, contours on topographical maps were shown using ground surveys and levelling techniques. The customary techniques of surveying, levelling, and mapping have been supplanted by the development of photography and the use of aerial photography that followed. These images are now utilised in topographical mapping.

(ii) ‘Marginal Information’ in Topographical sheets

Solution:

The topographical sheet number, its position, grid references, its extent in degrees, and what precisely a topographical sheet is exhibiting are all examples of marginal information. It is impossible to interpret a topographical sheet in any way without this peripheral data.

(iii) The Survey of India

Solution:

India’s topographical maps are created by the Survey of India for the whole nation. Up to the establishment of the Delhi Survey Conference in 1937, the Survey of India produced topographical maps for the India and Adjacent Countries Series. As a result, the creation of maps for the neighbouring nations was discontinued, and the Survey of India focused only on creating and publishing topographical maps of India in accordance with the guidelines established for the International Map Series of the World.

3. Explain what is meant by ‘map interpretation’ and what procedure is followed for its interpretation.

Solution:

The study of factors that explain the causal relationship among several features shown on the map. Reading and understanding toposheets requires both familiarity with map terminology and a good sense of direction. To properly orient oneself, we must first search for the map’s scale and north line. The labels and key that are provided for the map’s numerous aspects must be thoroughly understood by us.

The following procedure is followed in map interpretation:

(a) Finding from the index number of topographical sheet and the location of the area in India. This would give an idea of the general characteristics of the major and
minor physiographic divisions of the area.

(b) Find the scale of the map and the contour interval, which will give the extent and general landform of the area.

(c) Find the following features on tracing sheets.

(i) Major landforms: as shown by Contours and other graphical features.

(ii) Drainage and water features: the main river and its important tributaries.

(iii) Land use: i.e., forest, agricultural land, wastes, sanctuary, park, school, etc.

(d) Explain the distributional pattern of each of the features separately drawing attention to the most important aspect.

(e) Superimpose pairs of these maps and note down the relationship, if any between the two patterns. For example if a contour map is superimposed over a land use map, it provides the relationship between the degree of slope and the type of the land used.

(f) Aerial photographs and satellite imageries of the same area and of the same scale can also be compared with the topographical map to update the information.

4. If you are interpreting the cultural features from a topographical sheet, what information would you like to seek and how would you derive this information? Discuss with the help of suitable examples.

Solution:

Settlements, occupation, means of communication and transportation, land use pattern are some of the cultural features which are shown on topographical sheet using conventional signs, colour and symbol. We will seek the information about these features.

(a) Transport and Communication: The means of transportation include national or state highways, district roads, cart tracks, camel tracks, footpaths, railways, waterways, major communication lines, post offices, etc.

(b) Settlement:

(i) Rural Settlements: The types and patterns of rural settlements, i.e., compact, semi-compact, dispersed, linear, etc.

(ii) Urban Settlements: Type of urban settlements and their functions, i.e., capital cities, administrative towns, religious towns, port towns, hill stations, etc.

(c) Occupation: The general occupation of the people of the area may be identified with the help of land use and the type of settlement. For example, in rural areas the main occupation of majority of the people is agriculture; in tribal regions, lumbering and primitive agriculture dominates and in coastal areas, fishing is practiced. Similarly, in cities and towns, services and business appear to be the major occupations of the people.

Answer 2

5. Draw the conventional signs and symbols for the following features:

(i) International Boundary

(ii) Bench Mark

(iii) Villages

(iv) Metalled Road

(v) Footpath with bridges

(vi) Places of Worship

(vii) Railway line

Solution:

(i) International Boundary

(ii) Bench Mark

(iii) Villages

(iv) Metalled Road

(v) Footpath with bridges

(vi) Places of Worship

(vii) Railway line

EXERCISE A

Study the contour pattern and answer the following questions.

1. Name the geographical feature formed by contours.

Solution:

Plateau

2. Find out the contour interval in the map.

Solution:

100 metre

3. Find out the map distance between E and F and convert it into ground distance.

Solution:

2 cm = 4 km on the ground

4. Name the type of slope between A and B; C and D and E and F.

Solution:

A and B Gentle Slope
C and D Steep Slope
E and F Gentle Slope

5. find out the direction of E, D and F from G.

Solution:

From G, E is in west, D is in North and F is in South directions.

EXERCISE B

Study the extract from the topographical sheet No. 63K/12. as shown in the figure below and answer the following questions.

1. Convert 1:50,000 into a statement of scale.

Solution:

1 cm on map is showing 50000 cm on ground.

2. Name the major settlements of the area.

Solution:

Kachhwa, Prem Ka Pura, Bhatauli, Bahraini.

3. What is the direction of flow of the river Ganga?

Solution:

Direction of flow of river Ganga is from North west to south east.

4. At which one of the banks of river Ganga, Bhatauli is located?

Solution:

It is located in the middle of Ganga river.

5. What is the pattern of rural settlemen ts along the right bank of river Ganga?

Solution:

Compact pattern of rural settlements is seen along the right bank of river Ganga.

6. Name the villages/settlements where Post Office/Post and Telegraph Office are located?

Solution:

Villages indicating PO, and PTO have post office or post and telegraph office.

7. What does the yellow colour in the area refer to?

Solution:

Yellow colour in the area refers to plains.

8. What means of transportation is used to cross the river by the people of Bhatauli village?

Solution:

Boats used to cross the river by the people of Bhatauli village.

EXERCISE C

Study the extract for topographical sheet 63K/12 shown in the figure given below and answer the following questions.

1. Give the height of the highest point on the map.

Solution:

208 metres.

2. River Janitihwa Nadi is flowing through which quarter of the map.

Solution:

River Jamtihwa Nadi is flowing through south east quarter of the map.

3. Which is the major settlement located in the east of the Kuardari Nala?

Solution:

Bandhwa settlement is located in the east of the Kuardari Nala.

4. What type of settlement does this area have?

Solution:

Linear settlements are there in this area.

5. Name the geographical feature represented by white patches in the middle of Sipiu Nadi.

Solution:

It is showing plains.

6. Name the two types of vegetation shown on part of the topographical sheet.

Solution:

Tropical deciduous vegetation.

7. Vdhat is the direction of the flow of the Kuardari?

Solution:

It is flowing from South to North.

8. In which part of the sheet area is Lower Khajuri Dam located?

Solution:

In Southern part of the sheet Lower Khajuri Dam is located.

Answer 3

More Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is not a type of settlements?

(a) Compact
(b) Dispersed
(c) Linear
(d) Polar

Solution:

(d) Polar

2. Which of the following is not a type of urban towns?

(a) Mountain towns
(b) Capital towns
(c) Beauty towns
(d) Religious towns

Solution:

(c) Beauty towns

3. A widely stretched flat-topped high land, with relatively steeper slopes, rising above the adjoining plain or sea is called a:

(a) Mountain
(b) Valley
(c) Spur
(d) Plateau

Solution:

(d) Plateau

4. A sudden and more or less perpendicular descent of water from a considerable height in the bed of a river is called a: 

(a) Spur
(b) Valley
(c) Waterfall
(d) Plateau

Solution:

(c) Waterfall

5. A tongue of land, projecting from higher ground into the lower is called a:

(a) Spur
(b) Valley
(c) Waterfall
(d) Plateau

Solution:

(a) Spur

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. How are relief maps different from topographical maps?

Solution:

Topographical Maps	Relief Maps
These maps show important natural and cultural features such as relief, vegetation, water bodies, cultivated land, settlements, and transportation networks, etc.	The earth’s surface is not uniform and it varies from mountains to hills to plateaus and plains. The elevation and depressions of the earth’s surface are known as physical features or relief features of the earth. The map showing these features is called a relief map.
These are called general purpose maps.	These are called Specific Purpose Maps.
These are drawn on relatively larger scale.	These are drawn on relatively smaller scale.

2. What methods are used to present topography?

Solution:

A number of methods have been used to show the relief features of the Earth’s surface on maps, over the years. These methods include hachure, hill shading, layer tints, benchmarks and spot heights and contours. However, contours and spot heights are predominantly used to depict the relief of an area on all topographical maps.

3. What are Hachure?

Solution:

Small straight lines drawn on the map along the direction of maximum slope, running across the contours. They give an idea about the differences in the slope of the ground.

4. Define Contour lines.

Solution:

These are imaginary lines joining all the points of equal elevation or altitude above mean sea level. They are also called “level lines”.

5. Differentiate between vertical interval and horizontal distance.

Solution:

Basis	Vertical Interval	Horizontal Distance
Meaning	Interval between two successive contours is called vertical interval.	The horizontal distance is the distance between two contours horizontally.
Change	The vertical interval between the two successive contour lines remains constant.	It varies from place to place depending upon the nature of slope. It is large when the slope is gentler and decreases with increasing slope gradient.
Expression	It is expressed as VT.	The horizontal distance, also known as the horizontal equivalent (HE).

6. What is a Topographic Map?

Solution:

A map of a small area drawn on a large scale depicting detailed surface features both natural and man-made. Relief in this map is shown by contours.

7. Explain different types of settlements shown on a topographical sheet.

Solution:

Four types of rural settlements may be identified on the map:

(a) Compact
(b) Scattered
(c) Linear
(d) Circular.

Urban settlements are distinguished as-

• Cross-road town
• Nodal point
• Market centre
• Hill station
• Coastal resort centre
• Port
• Manufacturing centre with suburban villages or satellite towns
• Capital town
• Religious centre.

8. How is density of settlement related to food supply?

Solution:

Density of settlement is directly related to food supply.

9. What are linear settlements?

Solution:

Sometimes, village settlements form alignments, i.e. they are spread along a river valley, road, embankment, coastline – these are called linear settlements.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What are the features of contours?

Solution:

Some basic features of contour lines are:

• A contour line is drawn to show places of equal heights.
• Contour lines and their shapes represent the height and slope or gradient of the landform.
• Space between contour lines represents slope. Closely spaced contours represent steep slopes while widely spaced contours represent gentle slope.
• When two or more contour lines merge with each other, they represent features of vertical slopes such as cliffs or waterfalls.
• Two contours of different elevation usually do not cross each other.

2. Explain how do we interpret a topographical sheet?

Solution:

It is essential to have knowledge of map language and sense of direction are essential in reading and interpreting topo-sheets. We must first look for the northline and the scale of the map and orient ourselves accordingly. We must have a thorough knowledge of the legends / key given in the map depicting various features. All topo-sheets contain a table showing conventional signs and symbols used in the map. We must be acquainted with conventional symbols, signs and colours.

Answer 4

3. Under which heads is a topographical sheet interpreted? Explain each in short.

Solution:

A topographic sheet is usually interpreted under the following way:

• Marginal Information: It includes the topographical sheet number, its location, grid references, its extent in degrees and minutes, scale, the districts covered, etc.
• Relief of the Area: The general topography of the area is studied to identify different landforms along with peaks, ridges, spur and the general direction of the slope.
• Drainage of the Area: We also need to interpret the important rivers and their tributaries and the type and extent of valleys formed by them, the types of drainage pattern, i.e. dendritic, radial, ring, trellis, internal, etc.
• Land Use: It includes the use of land under different categories like Natural vegetation and forest which part of the area is forested, whether it is dense forest or thin, and the categories of the forest found there like Reserved, Protected, Classified / Unclassified.
• Transport and Communication: The means of transportation include national or state highways, districts roads, cart tracks, camel tracks, footpaths, railways, waterways, major communication lines, post offices, etc. topographical sheet presents each of these.
• Settlement: Settlements are studied under rural settlements and urban settlements.
• Occupation: The general occupation of the people of the area may be identified with the help of land use and the type of settlement.

4. What factors determine the site of settlements?

Solution:

Various factors determine the site of settlements like

• Source of water
• Provision of food
• Nature of relief
• Nature and character of occupation
• Defence

5. Write a short note on map interpretation.

Solution:

Map interpretation involves the study of factors that explain the causal relationship among several features shown on the map. For example, the distribution of natural vegetation and cultivated land can be better understood against the background of landform and drainage. Likewise, the distribution of settlements can be examined in association with the levels of transport network system and the nature of topography.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Explain the steps involved in drawing, a Cross-section from their contours in different topographical landforms.

Solution:

The following steps may be followed to draw cross-sections of various relief features from their contours:

• Draw a straight line cutting across the contours on the map and mark it as XY.
• Take a strip of white paper or graph and place its edge along the XY line.
• Mark the position and value of every contour that cuts the line XY.
• Choose a suitable vertical scale, e.g. V2 cm =100 metres, to draw horizontal lines parallel to each other and equal to the length of XY. The number of such lines should be equal or more than the total contour lines.
• Label the appropriate values corresponding to the contour values along the vertical of the cross-section. The numbering may be started with the lowest value represented by the contours.
• Place the edge of the marked paper along the horizontal line at the bottom line of the cross-section in such a way that XY of the paper corresponds to the XY of the map and mark the contour points.
• Draw perpendiculars from XY line, intersecting contour lines, to the corresponding line at the cross-section base.
• Smoothly join all the points marked on different lines at the cross-section base.

2. Under which heads are topographical maps explained?

Solution:

A topographic sheet is usually interpreted in the following way:

• Marginal Information: It includes the topographical sheet number, its location, grid references, its extent in degrees and minutes, scale, the districts covered, etc.
• Relief of the Area: The general topography of the area is studied to identify different landforms along with peaks, ridges, spur and the general direction of the slope. These features are studied under the following heads:
  • Hill: With concave, convex, steep or gentle slope and shape.
  • Plateau: Whether it is broad, narrow, flat, undulating or dissected.
  • Plain: Its types, i.e. alluvial, glacial, karst, poastal, marshy, etc.
  • Mountain: General elevation, peak, passes, etc.
• Drainage of the Area: We also need to interpret the important rivers and their tributaries and the type and extent of valleys formed by them, the types of drainage pattern, i.e. dendritic, radial, ring, trellis, internal, etc.
• Land Use: It includes the use of land under different categories like Natural vegetation and forest, which part of the area is forested, whether it is dense forest or thin, and the categories of forest found there like Reserved, Protected, Classified / Unclassified.
• Transport and Communication: The means of transportation include national or state highways, district roads, cart tracks, camel tracks, footpaths, railways, waterways, major communication lines, post offices, etc. topographical sheet presents each of these.
• Settlement: Settlements are studied under the following heads:
  • Rural Settlements: The types and patterns of rural settlements, i.e. compact, semi-compact, dispersed, linear, etc.
  • Urban Settlements: Type of urban settlements and their functions, i.e. capital cities, administrative towns, religious towns, port towns, hill stations, etc.
• Occupation: The general occupation of the people of the area may be identified with the help of land use and the type of settlement. For example, in rural areas the main occupation of majority of the people is agriculture; in tribal regions, lumbering and primitive agriculture dominates and in coastal areas, fishing is practised. Similarly, in cities and towns, services and business appear to be the major occupations of the people.

3. Explain about identification of cultural features from topographical sheets.

Solution:

Settlements, buildings, roads and railways are important cultural features shown on topographical sheets through conventional signs, symbols and colours. The location and pattern of distribution of different features help in understanding the area shown on the map.

Types of Settlements: Four types of rural settlements may be identified on the map-

1. Compact
2. Scattered
3. Linear
4. Circular

Urban centres are distinguished as:

• Cross-road town
• Nodal point
• Market centre
• Hill station
• Coastal resort centre
• Port
• Manufacturing centre with suburban villages or satellite towns
• Capital town
• Religious centre

Site of settlements:

It should be closely examined with reference to the contour and drainage map. Density of settlement is directly related to food supply. Sometimes, village settlements form alignments, i.e. they are spread along a river valley, road, embankment, coastline – these are called linear settlements. In the case of an urban settlement, a cross-road town assumes a fan-shaped pattern, the houses being arranged along the roadside and the crossing being at the heart of the town and the main market place. In a nodal town, the roads radiate in all directions.

Transport and Communication Pattern:

Relief, population, size and resource development pattern of an area directly influence the means of transport and communication and their density. These are depicted through conventional signs and symbols. Means of transport and communication provide useful information about the area shown on the map.

Answer 5

Viva Questions

1. What is the purpose of topographical maps?

Solution:

They serve the purpose of base maps and are used to draw all the other maps.

2. Who prepares the topographical maps in India for the entire country?

Solution:

The Survey of India prepares the topographical maps in India for the entire country.

3. What are relief features of the earth?

Solution:

The elevation and depressions of the earth’s surface are known as physical features or relief features of the earth.

4. Name some of the methods used to depict relief features of the earth. Which of these are most common?

Solution:

A number of methods have been used to show the relief features of the Earth’s surface on maps, over the years. These methods include hachure, hill shading,’ layer tints, benchmarks and spot heights and contours. However, contours and spot heights are predominantly used to depict the relief of an area on all topographical maps.

5. Name the slope if contours show following features:

(i) Contours in this type of slope are widely spaced in the lower parts and are closely spaced in the upper parts.

(ii) The contours are widely spaced in the upper parts and are closely spaced in the lower parts.

(iii) The contours representing this type of slope are far apart.

(iv) The contours are closely spaced.

Solution:

(i) Concave Slope

(ii) Convex Slope

(iii) Gentle Slope

(iv) Steep Slope.