Nystrom, 3D

Quick Answer: Nystrom, 3D is a raised-relief geography model that presents landform and terrain detail in tactile 3D form. Teachers use it beside atlases and flat physical maps so students can see what the map’s colours and lines are describing.

How Maps Show Height, and Why a Raised Model Helps

Flat maps use several conventions to show height. Contour lines join points of equal elevation, layer tints colour land by height band, usually greens for lowland through yellows and browns for higher ground, spot heights give exact values, and hill shading or hachures suggest slope. Each convention is a code that students have to learn to read.

A raised-relief geography model removes the code. The landform detail is physically present, so the class can see mountains standing above plains and valleys cutting into higher ground, then turn to the atlas and work out how the same features are drawn in colour and line. Students who struggle with abstract map symbols often grasp them quickly after this comparison.

Because the model is tactile as well as visual, it also suits group work in which students describe a route across the terrain, and it can help learners with visual impairments build a mental picture of a landscape.

Specifications

Applications

• Comparing the raised model with an atlas page to decode layer tints and contours
• Describing journeys across the terrain using height and slope vocabulary
• Opening a physical geography unit with a whole-class discussion around the model
• Tactile learning for students who rely on touch

Care & Handling

• Support the raised-relief model from underneath when moving it, never by a raised feature.
• Use a soft brush or dry cloth for dusting and keep liquids away from it.
• Store it out of direct sunlight.

Why Choose LabEquip

Geography departments often pair this model with Rico Nova, 3D, a second raised-relief model in the range, or with Maps, 3D for a wider set of relief maps. All are found in Educational Science Models; the contact page is where to share your syllabus and quantities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a raised-relief model?

It is a map or model in which height is shown by the surface itself, so higher land actually stands up from lower land. Students can see, and touch, slopes and landforms that a flat map can only suggest.

How do flat maps show height?

With contour lines, layer tints (colour bands for height ranges), spot heights and hill shading. A raised-relief model helps students understand what each of these conventions represents.

Which region does Nystrom, 3D show?

The region is confirmed at enquiry. Share the syllabus unit you teach, such as a continent or the physical divisions of India, and LabEquip can tell you how the model fits that unit.

How is the model used with an atlas?

Students locate a feature on the raised surface, find the same area in the atlas and describe how the map shows it: the colour band, the spacing of contours or the spot height.

Can students touch the model?

Yes, under supervision. Touching the relief helps students feel the difference between steep and gentle slopes, and makes the model useful for learners with visual impairments.

Is the model suitable for college geography?

Yes. School classes use it to learn map conventions, and college students use it to discuss relief, drainage and land use alongside topographical maps.

Last Updated: October 2026