CHARACTERISTICS OF

CONTOURS
Contours have the following significant
characteristics:
· All points on a given contour have the same
elevation.
· A contour on the ground closes on itself. A
contour may close within a map, or it may be
discontinued at any two points at the borders
of the map. Such points mark the limits of the
contour on the map, but the contour does not
end at those points.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONTOURS
• · The direction of a contour at any point is at
right angles to the direction of the steepest
slope of the ground at that point.
· Contours on the ground cannot cross one
another, nor can contours having different
elevations come together and continue as
one line. However, where an overhanging
cliff or cave is represented on a map,
contours on the map may cross. The lower
contour must then be shown dotted. At a
vertical ledge or wall, two or more contours
may merge.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONTOURS
• · The horizontal distance between
adjacent contours indicates the
steepness of the slope of the ground
between the contours. Where the
contours are relatively close together,
the slope is comparatively steep, and
where the contours are far apart the
slope is gentle.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONTOURS
• As a contour approaches a stream, the
contour turns upstream until it intersects
the shore line. It then crosses the stream
and turns back along the opposite bank of
the stream. If the stream has an
appreciable width on the map, the contour
is not drawn across the stream but is
discontinued at the shore with which it
merges.
examples
examples
examples
examples
examples