CONTOURS

What are contours?

• Imaginary lines
• Drawn on a map
• Connecting places
• Which are at equal altitude (height above sea
level)
 S
U R
T

Q
E
P

G
F D
B M
A
C

L
I

H J

K O
N
 238
240 252
276

263
297
279

280
317 300
320 285
325
314

289
309

280 298

281 254
264
 238
240 240
252
0 276
26 2 60
263
300 297 280
279

280
317 .300
320 285
325
314
32
0

289
309

30 0

280 298

0
28
280 254
26 281
0 264
INDEX CONTOURS
INDEX CONTOURS
 Characteristics of Contours
• All places on the contour line lie
at the same altitude
• Contours never intersect each
other
• Contour interval (difference
between two successive
contour values) is uniform
throughout the map
• All contour values are multiples
of the contour interval
• Height of any place on map can
be determined
 FORM LINES

Drawn where it is not possible to draw contours and there is a

prominent relief feature which is lesser in height than the contour
interval
 Spacing between contours
• Widely spaced contours
– Gentle slope
• Closely packed contours
– Steep slope
• Overlapping contours
– Vertical slope
Uniform Gentle Slope
Uniform Gentle Slope

320

280

240
260
300

220
Uniform Steep Slope
Uniform Steep Slope

320
300
280
0
26
240
220
200
180
160
140
Concave Slope
Concave Slope

24 22
320 26 0 0
0
28
300
0
Convex Slope
Convex Slope
 Features of Contour Diagrams
• Spacing gives idea of
slope
• Shape of contours
resembles shape of
relief feature in ariel
view
• It is possible to visualise
the shape of the relief
feature
VISUALISATION
CONICAL HILL

320

300

280

260
ASYMMETRICAL HILL

320
300

280

260
CIRCULAR PLATEAU

320
300
280
260
RIDGE

320 280 260

300
 SADDLE

320 280 260

320 300
 V SHAPED VALLEY

340
280
260
240 320
220
200 300
180
 WATERFALL

280 340
260
240 320
220
200 300
An Escarpment
End of Presentation