New elevation maps from Kansas Geological Survey illustrate state’s varied topography

LAWRENCE — Two new maps from the Kansas Geological Survey, based at the University of Kansas, tell the story of how geology and other natural features interact to form the unique and varied landscapes found across Kansas and offer a visual illustration that the state is not as flat as people believe. 

“Surface Topography of Kansas: Elevation Contours and Hydrology” depicts elevation of the land surface above sea level, using contour lines to connect points of equal elevation. “Surface Topography of Kansas: Elevation Hillshade” also shows elevation across the state, using color-coded shaded relief that provides a three-dimensional effect and accentuates the 3,363 feet of elevation gain from east to west.

KGS cartographers John Dunham and Emily Bunse compiled the maps, which can be used on their own or with other maps, such as the Survey’s “Surficial Geology of Kansas,” to consider how the regional influences of rivers and the types of rocks found at the surface shape the landscape.

“The two maps work together to help people better understand the topography of the state, visualizing the range of topography and topographic features,” Dunham said. “We also think that they are attractive maps that are fun to look at, and people might want copies simply to display on their walls.”

The hillshade map depicts the long, slow increase in elevation from shades of green in the eastern half of the state, representing lower elevations, transitioning through yellows and oranges as elevation increases, to tans at the highest elevations along the western edge. Two elevation profiles illustrate the increase, too. One depicts elevation changes on a line from the lowest point, 676 feet above sea level in Montgomery County, to the highest, 4,039 feet in Wallace County. The second depicts elevation change along Interstate 70, from 751 feet where the highway enters Kansas at the Missouri border to 3,919 feet where I-70 crosses into Colorado.

The hillshade mapping techniques create shadows that bring out ridges and valleys. The Flint Hills are easily distinguished, as are river systems, the rugged Glaciated Region in the northeast, the High Plains in the west and more.

“Surface Topography of Kansas: Elevation Contours and Hydrography” shows the influence of rivers and streams on landscape through its depiction of drainage patterns across the state. It also includes a photographic tour of unusual Kansas geologic sites, from Mount Sunflower in Wallace County, the highest point in the state, to the lowest point where the Verdigris River exits Kansas in Montgomery County. Other sites featured on the map are the Arikaree Breaks, rugged canyonland in Cheyenne County; the chalk formations at Monument Rocks National Landmark in Gove County; the mesas and buttes of the Red Hills in Barber and Comanche counties; the geographic center of the lower 48 U.S. states in Smith County; Rocktown Cove along the shoreline of Wilson Lake in Russell County; Rock City, a collection of large spherical sandstone concretions in Ottawa County; the Flint Hills in eastern Kansas; and Lake Big Brutus, part of the Mined Land Wildlife Area in the southeast part of the state.

“We developed the photo tour and the elevation profiles to highlight the variety of landscapes around the state and demonstrate that the state isn’t as flat as is often thought,” Bunse said. “We also hope the maps will encourage people to explore and appreciate Kansas’ unique and beautiful landscape.”

Each map is approximately 55 inches by 36 inches at a 1:500,000 scale, meaning 1 inch on the map equals about 8 miles. The generalized contours from the elevation contours and hydrography map will be available as an ArcGIS Online layer in the KGS GIS Data and Maps Hub. The elevation hillshade map is available online, and the elevation contours and hydrography map also is available at the KGS website.

Paper copies of both maps may be purchased by contacting the KGS publication sales office at 1930 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047-3724 (phone 785-864-3965 or email kgs-publications@ku.edu) or the KGS Kansas Geologic Sample Repository at 4150 W. Monroe St., Wichita, KS 67209-2640 (phone 316-943-2343 ext. 200 or email kgsr@ku.edu). The cost is $20 each plus shipping and handling and, for Kansas residents, sales tax.

The new maps complement another new publication in the KGS Educational Series, Kansas GeoMaps, by Don Steeples, professor emeritus; Rex Buchanan, KGS director emeritus, and Julie Tollefson, KGS editor. This book, a revised and updated version of a volume first published in 1983, celebrates the variety of maps that depict the geologic and geographic qualities of the state, from rivers and reservoirs to oil and gas fields to Kansas roads to groundwater availability. The book includes an expanded look, through maps, at earthquake activity in the state from 1867 to the present.

More information about maps and other KGS products is available on the KGS website.