Contour lines on a map indicate what?

Contour lines on a map indicate what?

• A. Elevation and relief
• B. Vegetation patterns
• C. Road networks
• D. Water depths

Answer: (A)

Contour lines encode elevation and the shape of the terrain. Each line connects all points at the same height above sea level, so you can read how high or low the land is and how it rises into hills or falls into valleys just by the pattern of lines. When lines are close together, the slope is steep; when they’re spaced apart, the land is flatter. Closed loops usually indicate hills or depressions, and the exact elevation is read from labeled lines or the map legend. Vegetation patterns, roads, and water depths are shown with different symbols or shading, not contour lines, which is why contour lines are the indicator of elevation and relief.

Contour lines encode elevation and the shape of the terrain. Each line connects all points at the same height above sea level, so you can read how high or low the land is and how it rises into hills or falls into valleys just by the pattern of lines. When lines are close together, the slope is steep; when they’re spaced apart, the land is flatter. Closed loops usually indicate hills or depressions, and the exact elevation is read from labeled lines or the map legend. Vegetation patterns, roads, and water depths are shown with different symbols or shading, not contour lines, which is why contour lines are the indicator of elevation and relief.