Activity Goal
To identify and use the elevation colors on the physical world map.
Materials Needed:
A pencil and a Cram Physical World map.
Lesson
Physical Map Colors
A physical map shows colors based on the elevation of the land above sea level. There is a standard set of colors used to show elevations, starting with greens for the lowlands, changing to yellow for middle elevations, and turning to orange and brown for highlands. The Physical Explorer World map's elevation colors are as follows;
Color
Elevation in Feet
Elevation in Meters
Dark Brown
over 10,000 Ft.
over 3,048 M.
Light Brown
5,000 to 10,000 Ft.
1,524 to 3,048 M.
Orange
2,000 to 5,000 Ft.
610 to 1,524 M.
Yellow
1,000 to 2,000 Ft.
305 to 610 M.
Light Green
500 to 1,000 Ft.
152 to 305 M.
Dark Green
0 to 500 Ft.
0 to 152 M.
??? Use the legend and the world map to answer the following questions.
1. The highest mountain in the world is located between India and China, in the country of Nepal. What is the name of the mountain? ____________________________________
Note: the mountain's elevation was adjusted in the year 2000; it was 29,028 feet, and has been changed to 29,035 feet.
2. Based on elevation colors, is Japan mostly (1) a low and flat country, or (2) a high and mountainous country? ____________________________________
3. The green area around the Amazon River contains the largest rain forest in the world. The Amazon River empties into the Atlantic Ocean, but starts in the dark brown region to the west. What is the name of this mountain range? ____________________________________
4. Locate the large, brown area in China labeled as the Plateau of Tibet (also known as the "Roof of the World"). Name six major rivers that drain from this region.
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5. Find the Ural Mountains that divide Europe and Asia. Describe the type of landform which surrounds these mountains? ____________________________________ ____________________________________
6. Name the mountain range in Mongolia (between Russia and China) that is over 5,000 feet in elevation. ____________________________________