MARGINAL INFORMATION

CONVENTIONAL SYMBOLS
20
Express highway: with toll; with bridge; with distance stone.
Roads, metalled: according to importance

Roads, double carriageway: according to importance

Unmetalled road. Cart-track. Pack-track with pass. Foot-path.

Streams: with track in bed; undefined. Canal. . .

earthwork. Weir... TT
Dams: masonry or rock-filled;
with island & rocks. Tidal river..
River: dry with water channel;
Submerged rocks. Shoal. Swamp. Reeds

Wells: lined; unlined. Tube-well. Spring. Tanks: perennial; dry. .

Embankments: road or rail; tank. Broken ground

Railways, broad gauge: double; single with station; under constrn...

Railways, other gauges: double; single With distance stone; do.. HH*
RS
+ --

Mineral line or tramway. Kiln. Cutting with tunnel. .

Contours with sub-features. Rocky slopes. Cliffs.. . . .

Sand features: (1flat.(2)sand-hills (permanent). (3)dunes(shifting).

Towns or Villages: inhabited; deseted. Fort..

A
Huts: permanent; temporary. Tower. Antiquities...
Temple. Chhatri. Church. Mosque. idgh. Tomb. Graves.

Lighthouse. Lightship. Buoys: lighted; unlighted. Anchorage .I

Mine. Vine on trellis. Grass. Scrub

Palms: paimyra; other. Plantain. Conifer. Bamboo. Other trees. . . 9

.. *
Areas: cultivated; wooded. Surveyed tree.
A
Boundary, international.

state: demarcated; undemarcated

district; subdivision, tahsl or tluk; forest

Boundary pillars: surveyed; unlocated.. . .

Heights, triangulated: station; point; approximate.. .

. 200 200 200

en Bench-merk: geodetic; tertiery; canal.. . . BM 63 3 BM 63 3 .63

Post office. Overhead tank. .

e
Rest house or Inspection bungalow. Circuit house. Police station

Camping ground. Forest: reserved; protected. CG RF PF

Spaced names: administrative; locality or tribal . .KiKRI NAGA

Hospital. Dispensary. Veterinary: Hospital/Dispensary..
Aerodrome. Helipad. Tourist site..
Power line: with pylons surveyed; with poles unsurveyed.
Boundaries
Natural/ Natural/
Conventional Conventional
Man-madde Meaning Man-made Meaning
feature symbol symbol
feature
International Forms boundary
State Forms border between demarcated
boundary between countries
boundary states within a country
undemarcated

Decoding Topo - 10
 Natural/
Man-made Conventionnl Natural Conventional
Meaning Man-made Mening
fenture ymbol
feature
symbo
4S10
District Forms border between lehnil/ Ialuka oms border between
boundary districts within a slate boundary ehsiln within a district
4S7

Roads and Railwas

Natural/ Natural/ Conventional
Man-made Conventional
Meaning Man-made Meaning symbol
feature symbol
feature
The horizontal distance
Toll between the tracks is
Highway made up of with toll 1,676 mm. Double
concretc, without spccd Brond gaue wignifies double line
Expressway obstacles, and designed double track in which each
with bridge track in designated to
for swiftness
allow train travel in
each direction.
with distance stone
Broad gauge The single tracks allows
Accordingto single with trains in both direction
importamece station to share the same track
RS
Asphalt or pitched road,
Metalled road indicates a developed
Railways Railway line under
region under
construction
construction

Other gauges includes

Kachcha road or meter gauge 1,000 mm
a non-tarred road and narrow gauge 762
Unmetalled which indicates Other gauges mm and 610 mm
road underdeveloped region, :=== doublc Double line track in
usually found in which cach track is
villages designated w allow
Path broader than pack train travcl in cach
track, made for bullock direction
or camel carts; it
Cart track Other gauges Movement of trains
connects one village to
another, thus facilitating single with in both direction on a 20
transport of village distance stone single track
goods Cutting construction
Path used by humans through areas of low
and animals to travel, hills, where the rock
Pack track
usually found in hilly are cleared to create a
with pass Cuttings with
areas where vehicles route to make way for a
tunnel
cannot reach road or railways
Tunnel a passage
Path made by man for a road or railways
in steep regions or
through a hill
forested areas due to
Footpath the continuous use ofa
An overhead structure
to carry a road or
track to eross a certain Bridge
arca
railways across a river
stream, marshy arca

Fig 6: Unmetalled road Pig 7: Foolpath Fiy. 8. Broad gauge single

F 9 ultings with tunne
with slation
Waterbodies
Natural/ Natural/

Man-made
feature
Meaning
Conventional
symbol
Man-made

feature
Meaning
nvent
symboliona
Perennial river Has water throughout A hollow region which
natural
the year Tank contains rainwater, an-haad
6indicative ofrocky perennial
Dries up in summer, is
Seasonal river indicative of seasonal terrain natural
rainfall
ry man-hae
When a river falls from
A tank which is used for
the edge of a cliff or Falls 12 m Diggi
Waterfall
steep slope, it forms a
collection of water
Diggi
waterfall A well with bricks and
Movement of river in stones surrounding
Meanders loops, indicative of the it; deep with water
middle course of the throughout the year
river Lined
ell Well water that is salty
Dry river perennial well
bed with a During sunmmers, the
river dries off leaving a
or brackish in nature is
shown with the word
Brackish
perennial Brackish' written on its
channel of trickle of water channel
flowing in it side in black.
water
A well without a lining
A wall, of earth or of bricks and stones;
Unlined
Embankment stone, constructed along AAAAAAAA 8eneraly less deep and
p e r e n n i a l well
a river, tank, or railway YYTYY provides water to a
line smaller area
River with River with rocks A wall-like structure
rocks and and island, signifies built across a river for masonry or rock-tilled
1sland deposition by rivers Dam controlling the water
Gully erosion along flow and behind which MM
Broken banks of seasonal a reservoir is formed to earthwork
ground rivers, indicative of store water for later
seasonal rainfall Weirs are low dams.
useT T
weir
A spring 1s a point or
opening on Earth's
surface from where
Spring the underground water
stored in acquifer seeps
out and flows out on the
+
surface

Fig. 10: Seasonal river

Fig. l1: Meander Fig. 12: Dry river bed with a
perennial channel of water

Brokenground

Fig 13: Embankment Fig.14: Broken ground Fig. 15: Tank Fig 16. Weir

10 Decoding Topo - 10-

 Natural/ Natural/ Conventional
Conventional Meaning
Man-made Meaning symbol
Man-made symbol
feature feature
An open channel raised A raised metalled road

on pillars to carry built across a minor

Aqueduct water over valleys or

mountain regions, under Aqueduct Causeway
stream or swampy
region or inundated by Causeway
shallow levels of water
the influence of gravity
during high tides
A channel which carries
water from a river to A tube immersed in the
Canal fields for irrigation or is water of an aqueduct at

used for navigation a higher level to bring

A tank for storing water
Siphon
the water to the fields at Siphon
a lower level
raised above the ground
A water channel with
with help of stands or
a gate at its head to
Overhead tank
pillars control the water. When
The water is pumped Sluice 10r Sluice
the gate is opened,
into it by high powered
water flows into the
motors and distributed
aqueduct or canal.
from it to nearby areas.

Fig. 20: Causeway

Overhead tank
Fig. 18: Canal Fig. 19:
Fig. 17: Aqueduct

Vegetation
Natural/ Conventional
Natural Conventional Meaning
Man-made symbol
Man-made Meaning symbol
feature feature
A forest in which
Cultivation of banana-like| the government has
Plantain fruits which are generally proprietary rights and
cooked before eating the power to issue
rules regarding the
A region of thorny
use of such forests.
Scrub bushes, low trees, and
shrubs, indicative of
scanty rainfall in a region
Protected
forest
Here, permission
can be given to the PF
communities living in
the periphery to use the
Aregion of thorny
bushes, low trees, and forest for meeting their
Open scrub Open scrub needs of livelihood like
shrubs, indicative of
scanty rainfall in a region grazing of animals or
hunting.
A variety of trees
belonging to the The tree used for
Palms Arecaceae family. They Survey purpose. This
palmyra other Surveyed tree tree is not allowed to
grow in hot climate
areas.
be cut.
A forest which is a
government property
and local people are
Reserved
forest
prohibited to use for
hunting and grazing,
RF
unless a forest officer
specially allows

Fig. 21: Plantain Fig 22: Open scrub

-| Topographical Maps 1
Settlement
Natural/
Man-made Conventional
Natural
Man-made
Meaning Conventional
symbol
feature Meaning symbol feature

A house in which
Permanent A house where Rest House
hut people Government employees
|live continuously orInspection are entitled to stay
A housc Bungalow
lemporary where people A house in which
hut live for a few months, e.g.
house in a hilly area Government employees
Circuit House of high posts are entitled
Deserted A settlement that has
to stay
towns/villages been abandoned X The office of the local
Inhabited A settlement in which Police station
police force
settlement people are living
A police post with two
Antiquities Ancient monuments chauki or three policemen, Police chauki
6auur Police under a police station
Temple A place of
worship Fortransmission of
power, it may be with surveyed
A dome-shaped Power lines
Pylons surveyed or with
structure, which is
Chhatri held up by a series of poles unsurveyed unsurveyed
ornamental columns or Ahospital providing
pillars Hospital medical help to sick and
Church A place of
injured people
worship A health care unit that

Mosque A place of worship

Dispensaryy is small and has lesser
amenities +
An office responsible Veterinary:
Post office
for postal services Hospital/ Ahospital/dispensary
for animals
Dispensary
Representation of Hcights above Sea L.evel
Natural
Man-made Conventional Naturall
Meaning Man-made
feature symbol Conventional
feature
Meaning
Imaginary lines joining symbol
Contours places having the same Trigonometrical
height above the sea station/ The place is 'x' m
level Triangulated above sea level. A 200
The spot is'x' m above height
sea level. When it
Spot height Is approximate, it is 200
written in italics and in Benchmark The benchmark is x
smaller font. 200 m above sea
level. .BM 63 3
Other F eatures
Natural/
Man-made Conventional
feature
Meaning Natural/Man-
symbol made feature Meaning Conventional
Sometimes the relief symbol
of an area is The outer limits of
highly
inaccessible for survey.
Forest the
So, for such areas survey boundary protected and reserved
is not possible and
forests
Form lines through eye estimation,
the relief feature is shown Mine |An excavation made
in discontinuous brown into the earth to extract
coloured lines called minerals
formlines. The fomlines
have no value assigned to Sand dune
them.
(shifting) |Mounds of hills and
sand deposited by wind
12 Decoding Topo-10-
 Natural Natural/ Conventional
Conventional
Man-made Meaning Man-made Meaning symbol
feature
symbol feature
A continuous stretch A barren land covered
of hard horizontal with broken rocks and Stony waste
Stony waste
embedded rock structure pebbles, from where fine
which has been exposcd particles are blown away
Sheet rock
to the surface by the Sheet Rock ATTTTT
removal of the overlying u
soil cover and levelled Limestone
A place where rocks are
into a polished surface
excavated and crushed quarry
by agents of erosion
Quarry into smaller pieces to
Rocky knob
A rounded isolated hill
or a mountain Rocky knob
be used for construction
and other industries
Tm
Marblestone
A piece of bedrock
protruding on the quarry
Rock outcrop surface since overlying Rock outcrop Aarea
nwhich is
materials are blown hollowed or lowered by
away Depression the deflation actions of Dep
A large outdoor furnace winds
Kiln used for baking of A gap or pathway made
bricks clear in forests and = = = ====

A big oven used for Fire line devoid of vegetation to

calcination of limestone stop the spread of forest Fire line
or calcium carbonate. fires
Lime kiln Limestone under intense
heat in the kiln changes Place of interest to
into calcium oxide
(Lime) Tourist site
tourists
(quicklime).

Fig. 23: Sheet rock Fig. 24: Rocky knob Fig. 25: Rock outcrop

Fig. 26: Stony waste Fig 27: Quarry

Fig. 28: Depression Fig. 29: Fire line

Fig. 30: Kiln
Colours Used in
Topographic Maps
Black seasonalwaterbodies such as rivers, streams, andtanks; brookea
s Or all settlements; lines oflatitude and longitude; earthwork dams, embankments, temples, chhatris, chureh
8round, railway lines; survey trees with their numbers, ches,
mosques, tombs, graves, boundaries, rest houses, circuit houses
Blue lined and unlined perennial wells, overhead tanks, veterina.
catures related to perennial waterbodies, aqueducts, rinary
hospitals/dispensaries, tourist sites
Green-forests, grasslands, orchards, scattered trees, palms, palmyras, piaintautions
White uncultivated land
Yellow- cultivated land
Brown- sand dunes, contours
Red -

eastings and northings; metalled roads, unmetalled roads, pack tracks, cart tracks, footpaths, masonary dams, settlements
hospitals, dispensaries
 and clif
Fig. 37: rom left to right) Concave slope, conver slope,

by contours: Let us study how various

relief features are represented by contours.
Representation of various relief features
hill is like a cone with a broad base with
sides that slope equally and a narrow peak or summit. On
Conical hill: A conical
towards the centre.
circular contours with values (representing the height) increasing
a map, it is represented by equidistant
is a point in the centre of the contour diagram
and can be represented by a spot height, i.e.
The highest point, i.e. the peak
a dot and a number.

Plateau: A plateau is an elevated upland with a flat surface

and steep sides. The contours representing a plateau are closely
the centre.
packed on the sides and are generally absent in

1000
900
800
-700 1000
-800
600

Contour interval 100 m Contour interval 200 mi

--|1100 1200
.-|1000 Height 1000 Height
900 above above
800
-700 sea level 800 sea level
600
Fig. 38: Conical hill Fig. 39: Plateau

15
-| Topographical Maps
 stec
steep slope. On
ridge have
a
of the a
Ridge: A ridge is a long
ng narrow ighland withh more than more
one
summit. The sides

in the centre.

iage is summit

depicted by long, closely spaced contours w

with more
than one
It
the sadd resembles

of a ridge.
Contours
d
summits
a horn
Saddle: A saddle is a two between

and is hence so broad, flat. gently sloping

Bently sloping area area

called. and is generalt

Col: It is associated between two peaks
of a rally mountain

foun
with high mountains. lowest point
ountains. A col is the t
at
high
E altitudes. It isis alower than a saddle. bers to cross
be used by climbe
It is a French
word meaning 'ncck'. Cols are Renerally not suitable passes but
id
can
mountainy
Th n e r a l l y associated with glacial features like an arete riug

Contour interval 100 m

Summils

Saddle 900
800
1000 700
900 Height Height 600
+800 above 500
700 above
600 sealevel sealevel 400
500 300
A00
Fig. 41: Escarpment
Fig. 40: Ridge and saddle
Escarpment: Escarpment is the long, extensive, steep side of a hill, plateau, or ridge. The contours are close to each other
but do not touch each other. The scarp (steep) slope is called the escarpment. A hill with a steep slope on one side and a
gentle slope on the other side is called cuestas.
Valley: A valley is an extensive lowland found between mountains. Valleys are created by glacial or river erosion and have
various morphological characteristics.
They are represented as V-shaped 800
contours with the apex of the V' 600-
/00

turned towards the higher ground. River 500-

The innermost contour has the lowest

AAA
value while the outermost one
has the
highest value. A deep V-shaped valley
with steep sides has contours that are
more closely placed than does a gentle
Contour interval 100 m Contour interval 100 m
valley
Spur: A spur is a highland or ridge 800
projecting out from the side of a hill ***** 700 Height
or mountain towards the lowland Height
600 above S00
and valley. spur is represented by
sea level o00 abuVe
V-shaped contours with the apex 400 400 sealevel
pointing towards the lower ground. Fig. 42: V-shaped valley
Fig. 43: Spur

l00- Knoll: A knoll is a low, isolated hill, mostly roundish in shape.

00
Knoll)

Water divide (also called

watershed): A water divide
is a highland, mountain, ridge, or an upland that separates
two river basins. Water
flowing on one side of the water WATER OIVIDE
divide forms a complete river system that
is
different from that flowing on the other side of entirely 1000
the divide.
The two river systems flow in different
Fig. 44: Knoll in a flat country not meet.
directions and do

Fig. 45 Water divde

16 DecodingTopo-10-
 Spot Height
It indicates the actual height of a spot above sea level Unlike contours, it can only denote the height of a place above sea level
and does not provide any information regarding relief features. It is denoted by a dot followed by a number, which represents
the height of the spot above sea level

Benchmark
Benchmarks are etched on walls. pillars, and stones. A benchmark represents the height of a place ahove sea level. It iS denoted
by BM followed by a number which is the height above sea level. The difference between spot height and benchmark is that
benchmark includes the height above sea level of the point and also added to it is the height at which the mark is written while

spot height only denotes the height of the ground above sea level.

TrigonometricalStation/Triangulated Height
The heights of these points are detemined by triangulation method. A trigonometrical station / triangulated height is denoted by
a triangle followed by a number which represents its height above sea level.

Relative Height
It is the height of a feature with respect to the surrounding and not from sea level. A system of r is used to denote relative
heights and relative depths. For example, a relative height of 8r represents an approximate height (in metres) between the top
and bottom of a steep slope. Ar in blue near a lined perennial well signifies its relative depth.

5
s Chandela
Causeway
). Causeway irikhèraa 2
Causewa
339
Open mixa
"opabari 297 ungie

Fig 46: 6r in 6514 means relative height of the Fig. 47: 20r in 5714 means the relative depth of the
earthwork dam is 6 m. lined perennial well is 20 m.

Hachures
Open serub
These are a set of broken lines drawn according to the slope of land. They
are drawn from the top of a hill, gradually following the slope. For a
depression or a hollow, hachures start from the rim of the depression and 2s Marblestone quarnes
progress downwards. Hachures are closer and bolder in case of a steep
slope, but are far apart in case of a gentle slope. Hara Magraa 413-
Causeways

Fig. 48: Hachures

IDENTIFYING RELIEF FEATURES AND SLOPES IN TOPOSHEETS

On the basis of the theory we have studied till now, let us identify few relief features present in maps.

ldentifying Physical Features Represented by Contours

The contours are brown lines which help us in interpreting the
reliet and slope of an area. Various physical features are represented
by contours.
Relief features: Some prominent features shown on contour maps are:

conical hills
ridges, summits and saddles
valleys and spurs in mountain regions
plains
| Topographical Maps17
 J8 1
Upen Scrub
|OAM

Sum 2199
ddle
roipura

Ridge
Koldar
Covered ian
Chilräsem
20
BM 225
Cen.
966 Hlabatpi YBW224
aspunya
224

44

Fig. 49: Conical hill summit, and saddle

Fig. 50: Ridge,

K
Palwa ka Gollya

SeP4
unge

****
19Somrivw
Kaliya Düngar 542
Rockyknob
Brickish
Steep Sope
Sakora
301
F/o EYS T
N 233 Kan .'

62
04
42
Fig. 51: Valley and spur
Fig. 52: Steep slope

woY
294 Slopes
stony
The slopes can be figured out with the
24222 between contours. help of distance
auyewayY Mitan steep slope (Fig. 52).
Closely spaced contours depict
Yanti
Causewdy On the other
hand, widely spaced contours indicate a
gentle slope (Fig. 53).
The general
Awára slope of land can be determined from tne
Caus direction of the
altitude to a lowflow rivers. Rivers flow from a n
237
usUway of
Cuseway altitude and thus indicate the
Marol of land. The slop
Sipu River flows towards the
(see Fig. 53). So the
is towards the
south-we
land's general slope in that
49
south-west. a
Fig. 53: A plain region Plains are
represented
howing a gentle by widely spaced conto urs

slope.

18 Decoding Topo - 10
 IpENTIFYING RIVERS AND POINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM

01

Amhwddass Kan
The rivers and streams shown on a map can
hptha
be perennial or seasonal. Seasonal rivers are 934
depictedin black colour, and perennial, in blue. A
a river depicts perennial channel of
Riverie
blue line in a
a
water in a dry river bed. Nani Bhatäinverineisfand RAOura2
Rivers have deposition of silt or sediments in
CaUsey
channels or have riverine islands as indicated
Sediment
in Fig. 54. deppsits

54: Riverine islands

Fig

Covered tank
50 Aqueduct
Agdor
Aqueduct
192 Agueduct
Covered lank

SIPURVEI
22 4
3
* * * * * " *

100

. Causelway Open _crub

ause
SPU
C

Fig. 55: Arrow showing direction of river Fig. 56: Broken ground

the river shown

The direction of the flow of a river can be understood
from the arrows placed between the lines representing
in Fig. 55 or by studying the spot heights and contours of the region.
inFig. 56 which is an evidence of seasonal rainfall.
The banks of a seasonal river has symbol of broken ground shown
A broader river channel and a
and V-shaped valleys.
.Rivers in the upper course display characteristics like
waterfalls
the sediments and riverine islands prove that the river is in its middle
meandering channel (Fig. 57) as well as presence of
course.
Awaterfall is formed when water tumbles down from a height. It is denoted by the word 'Falls' followed by a height. The
word Falls 15 m in the map shown in Fig. 58 means the height of the waterfall is 15 m.
The direction of the flow of a river helps us to decipher the right bank and left bank of the river. If we stand facing the
direction of the flow of the river, our right side will be the right bank of the river and our left side will be the lett bank of the
river (Fig. 59).

4Sawg Right bank

PAYurvédic)
Shri Vashisht Ashram
193 Lett
GaulMukh bank

SIPURIVER
Pithapura Rocky
kaebHA
Falls 15 mD Rocky kriobs
10r
Falls 12 m
2-

Jsoy
Bhadli Stony, wasle
08. f (y
67 68

57: Meandering rivers Fig. 58: Waterfalls Fig. 59. Deciphering the banks of a river
Fig.

Topopraphical Maps19
Kivers and
streams form various patterns
"valous
i) patterns or
or networks, as listed below
e r : The name is derived netwofrom the term 'dendron'. We can recognise it by the pattern that resem
o dncnes of a tree. The tributaries join the main stream at an acute angle as shown in Fig. 60. It is one ofes
mostly found on a homoo
of drainage pattern
homogeneo
is
pattern found Earth. This type
structure withnage
on
rock
a flat to
1) Trellis: Such a
a
gently sloping surtace.
drainage pattern is found in areas dominated by parallel anticlinal
with ridges alternating
ehavalleys. The tributaries join the main river almost at a perpendicular forming a trellis-like patl
shown in Fig. 61. They are found in areas of hard and sof rocks. Hard rocks form cuestas while softer rocks aree
to form valleys.
eroded
p a t e m is somewhat similar to a rectangular pattern. However, in a rectangular pattern, the tributaries.
apart as
compared to trellis which has a dense network of streams. are fa
a d i a l : In this pattern, the stream flows out in all directions from a central high point. The highland can be a CO:
hill, a volcano, onical
a residual bill, an isolated upland, etc. This river pattern looks like the spokes of a wheel divero
anrections from a
point as shown in Fig. 62. It is also known as centrifugal drainage patterm.
central ging in
Disappearing rivers: A river seems to 'disappear at a certain place where it
starts to not underground rather than
n the surface. This is seen in sandy and limestone areas. Sometimes the river does Tlow have
enough water
abruptly ends as shown in Fig. 64. nd
ana arainage: When streams drain into a depression or converge at a point, they form a
centripetal or inlan
atanage pattern. A seasonal stream in
2787 flows into a tank in 2788 as shown in Fig. 63 Signifying inland
draina

238
Kaliya Dkngar
Rocky knob
overed tank
(Lime

aawa.
F/o REsT
62

Fig. 60: Dendritic pattern

Fig. 61: Trellis Fig. 62: Radial pattern

765,
91 a 217
Dep

Dep
205
89

40
Fig. 63: Inland drainage
Fig. 64: Disappearing river
IDENTIFYING THE CLIMATE AND VEGETATION OF AN
AREA
Climate of an Area
There are various clues in a map which give us an
idea about the climate of an area. Csewere
Moderate rainfall: Areas covered with dense
jungles may be considered to have moderate
Nadi
rainfall.

Seasonal rainfall: The presence of seasonal

rackish
pusewa
streams and rivers, broken ground, and dry
19
river bed with a perenníal water-channel Police çhauki 263
indicates seasonal rainfall. Bkanwas

Scanty rainfall: The presence of open scrub,

28
brackish wells, sand dunes, and disappearing
streams indicates Scanty rainfall.
Rens 263
47 48
Fig. 65: Brackish well dunes
Receding Topo -10- Fig. 66: Sand
 Vegetation
areas of
area shows various types of vegetation. It includes scrubland and open scrub indicating scanty rainfall, and
The map are tound dispersed
mixed forests, open mixed jungle, ete. Scattered trees, palms, plantain, and palmyrs
dense to fairly dense
in the plains.

IN A TOPOSHEET
DENTIFYING MAN-MADE FEATURES/ cULTURAL ELEMENTS
Human Settlements
on

setlements shown in red squares. Settlements may be rural or urban. The type
are
of settlements depends tne
On a toposheet, and river valleys. The settlements in
in fertile plains
environment. setiements with a high density of population are foundlesser
Large also scattered.
on mountain slopes, and in desert regions are much smaller, with density of population, and
forests,
Settlements can be studied under two heads - types and patterns.
in
settlements are denoted by
hollow red squares as shown
be Temporary
temporary or permanent. red squares as shown
Types: Settlements can Permanent settlements are depicted by solid
found mostly hilly
in and forested regions. have
Fig. 67 and are urban areas, and developed regions.
Few settlements also
mOstly found in fertile agricultural areas,
in Fig. 68 and are

deserted huts.
27230

03

Fig. 68: Permanent settlement

Fig. 67: Temporary settlement

AaCauseways

such as
be found in different patterns
Patterns: Settlements can
seway REVDAR
clustered, linear, and dispersed.
is said to have a compact or
Clustered settlements: A settlement WD)

clustered pattern if a number of houses in a particular settlement are

in a small area (Fig. 69).
built close together (clustered)

Fig. 69: Chustered settlement

Causaway
hapura 350 Davkäwas

Dolpural
US

Dhavii

68 69

70: Linear Settlement Fig. 71: Dispersed settlement

Fig.

built along a road, riverside, or lake shore, thus forming a line (Fig. 70).
settlements where houses are
Linear settlements: These are or two houses may be together. They may be
found in
houses ofa settlement are scattered. One
Dispersed settlements: Here the habitation or scattered in farmlands (Fig. 71).
accessible and quite unsuitable for human
hilly forested areas that are less
TopographicalMaps21
 N21624
mportance of a
Debatuipa andmplos

important when itsettlement: A

settlement is
YPWD

metalled roads, large size or variousconsiderea

Iike has a
Mandira
office, school, and police station, amenics
dispensary, 23

Rural
industries. post eid-Hous7
and urban
are areas: In rural settlement,
a
engaged in
primary people
forestry, and fishing. On a occupations like agriculture,
are map, areas
shown by
the main yellow wash. In such under cultivation 13274 bu
Athvi Pahar
occupation.
also indicates Presence
areas,
agriculture
of cart tracks and
is Ka Pahro
cy knod 1277
that the wells "Chiminey Dhundii
Urban areas have
region is rural in
character.
better amenities like
metalled roads, connectivity by
government offices, industries,
hospitals, and pipeline schools, 7O Bhiryaliya
generally absent. Peopleconnection
are
of water. Wells are
20 a r a 1 4 0 1
Hetamil
tertiary industries. engaged secondary and
For e.g., Abu
in
an urban area. as shown in
72 Fig. 15 Mandi
High Schoot

69

Fig. 72: Urban settlement

IDENTIFYING MEANS OF
A
oposneet depicts various TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION
means of
Connected by metalled
roads transportation and communication. The settlements that are shown
can be considered as important settlements in the
and scope of toposheet as
development is more.

06 06

Pack track
166 Kotda
05 (uegol Gangudra
Cavsoway
Cart track-
Causè

04 041 -Footpath
0
19
02
63
Fig. 73: Cart track -
less developed region 65

Fig. 74: Pack track

and footpath
88

Ma

Cart tracks are found in plain .

less developed.
areas joining small villages which are
87 ERN
RAL

Unmetalled roads
join small towns and villages. Pack tracks pura
footpaths are more common in hostile terrains like hilly areas and
steep regions where construction of roads is difficult. and Kotda VES Malnbowgr
Large settlements have rail connectivity, e.g. Chitrasani in Fig. 75. Covereda
S6 Chitrasan
Post office is an important communication facility und in the 203
extract. A post office is seen at Chitrasani in Fig, 75. map BM 225:3

aDatpur NH

24 6
Jaspune

Fig. 75: Rail connectivity

22 Decoding Topo-10-
 Lined perennial wel Overhead tank IDENTIFYING MEANS OF IRRIGATION
94 crops by
water to artificial
Irrigation is the method ofsupplying
shown in a toposheet are
means. Various modes of irrigation
and tanks (covered
oung lined perennial wells, perennial canals,
perennial tanks).
93

Causeive
DANtiWADA
ginfwide Dam near Selwara
92 Dam at
8 0 Dantiwada earthwork)
Perennial canal Tank

Fig. 76: Means of irrigation

IDENTIFYING OCCUPATION
in a map. toposheetA does not give any direct
The probable occupations in an area are inferred from various details given
such as the presence of yellow wash, open
evidence about the occupations. The study of various features in the toposheet
schools helps us to infer about the probable occupations
in
scrubs, quarries, rorests, government buildings, tourist spots, and
-

the region.
Probable occupation
Evidences
Yellow wash Agriculture

Green wash and different types of forests Forestry

Cattle rearing
Open scrub,pack tracks, veterinary hospital/dispensary
Trade, tertiary or service sector
Metalled roads with large settlements
Government Services
Post office, police chauki, rest house
Quarrying and mining
Quarries and mines
Tourist spots Sunset Point, Anadra Point, Delwana temple, Nakhi Talao Tourism (Mt Abu)

features on the map and what they indicate. In the following

Interpreting a topomap is ajob which requires understanding about the Various theoretical concepts
solved worksheet, we will get a better understanding and indepth analysis toposheet interpretation.
of
learnt here are to be used for the interpretation.

Topographical Maps 23