Practice and Revision - Contour Maps and Land Forms

Core concept

Contour lines connect points of equal elevation on a map, with closely spaced lines indicating steep slopes and widely spaced lines indicating gentle slopes.

How it works

Different landforms have distinct contour patterns - hills show concentric circles, while valleys show V-shaped contour lines pointing uphill.

Why it matters

The difference in elevation between two consecutive contour lines is called the contour interval, which remains constant on a given map.

Key detail

Reading contour maps helps us understand terrain features, useful for hiking, construction planning, and understanding geography.