Question

If you are looking at a topographic map and see contour lines drawn very close together, what does this indicate about the terrain?

• A. The area is flat or gently sloping.
• B. The area is a very steep slope or cliff.
• C. The area is below sea level.
• D. The area is a river bed.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The area is a very steep slope or cliff.

• When horizontal distance between points of different height is small, the slope is steeper. • In topography, contour lines represent a fixed vertical interval (e.g., every 20 meters). The horizontal spacing between these lines on the map tells you how much ground you must cover to climb or descend that fixed vertical distance. • When lines are tight together, you are gaining a lot of height over a very short horizontal distance.