Hills, valleys, mountains, and deserts are all facest of our beautiful planet. The study of them is called topography. This natural science explains the forms and features of land surfaces and teaches us how our immediate surroundings came into being. It also takes into account man-made structures in any location. In fact, topography has turned into a wonderful hobby for many - a pastime that allows a person to get a deeper understanding of the world. If you're eager to get into all this, topographic maps are the first thing you should take a look at. Browse around, get a feel of their visual language, and soon you'll be able to read them easily.

Obviously, all traditional maps are perfectly flat, which leaves quite a bit of work to your imagination. Luckily, we live in a day and age where 3D graphics are essentially everywhere. Take advantage of this convenient situation. An app such as Google Earth will allow you to look around, explore the world, and really get a feel of what it's like to be surrounded by the highest of peaks or dwell in the lowest of valleys. People who are into all things related to science have it so much easier nowadays, don't you think?

Of course, the main thing topography focuses on are the highs and lows of the landscape. So how do you measure how tall that peak really is? Whip out your smartphone, and you can do it in a jiffy. Don't believe us? It's true. Interestingly enough, you can use a hiking app to calculate elevation with a pretty decent level of precision. As long as it has access to its online database, it should work just fine. This is what many professional explorers use in order to be successful at their job. Mountains, planes, and deserts should all be covered.