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CONTOURS
CONTOURS
The patterns made by contour lines allow geographers to determine the shape of the landscape and more importantly distinctive landforms.
LANDFORMS
LANDFORMS
These are the following landforms you must be able to identify on a topographic map.
Hill
Valley
Plain
Spur
Ridge
Escarpement
Saddle
Cliff
HILL
HILL
Hill, knolls and mountains are marked by a high point with the land falling away on all sides. Hills and mountains often end in a small, well defined peak. Some high points may be board and gently rounded. Small hills and similar features found on flat land or the sides of larger hills are called knolls. The contours pattern will show a series of almost concentric circles.
VALLEY
VALLEY
As water flows across the land it forms stream channels, which gradually deepen and widen as they work their way down slopes. The removal of soil and rock changes the shape of the land. The contour patterns show this by curving back towards the higher ground. Where the contour passes over a stream channel a 'V' shaped pattern is produced in the contour line.
PLAIN
PLAIN
A Plain refers to flat land. The land my be slightly undulating, for example the City of Perth and the majority of Perth's suburbs are sited on the Swan Coastal Plain, that ranges from 0 to 60 m a.s.l.
On a topographic map the contour lines will be significantly spaced apart from each other.
In the image on the right, you can view a small coastal plain on both sides of the river. This is represented below by widely spaced contours.
Other types of Plains, are Flood Plains, these can be located on the coast or inland. A Flood Plain will show that it is subject to 'inundation' on the map key. It can also have many drainage features.
RIDGE
RIDGE
A Ridge is an elongated strip of higher land, often with parallel sides falling away to lower ground on both sides. The contours will be very close together, which is also an indication of steep land.
It is quite common to find a Spur or a Valley between the Ridges of a Mountain Range.
ESCARPMENT
ESCARPMENT
An Escarpment is the steep edge of a plateau or it can be a landform which separates areas of land at different heights.
To identify an escarpment, look for contour lines which are parallel to each other.
Below is a landform called a plateau (flat top), the sides of the plateau are called Escarpments.
SADDLE
SADDLE
Shallow depressions between adjoining hills are called Saddles.
Lower land will be found in-between two circular like contours which represent higher land.
CLIFF
CLIFF
A cliff will have a gradient of 1:1.
A cliff on a topographic map will show contours that converge together.
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