contour maps
Lines showing height
Contour maps use lines to connect points of equal value—typically elevation on topographic maps, where each contour line represents a specific height above sea level.
Lines close together indicate steep terrain; lines far apart show gradual slopes.
The technique extends beyond geography to weather maps showing pressure systems and scientific diagrams displaying temperature or density gradients.
The contour map showed we'd be climbing steadily for the first three miles.
- gradientRate of change across space
- steep gradeSeverely angled slope
- elevationHeight above reference point
- elevation changeDifference in altitude
- sea levelElevation reference point
isoline · relief · relief map · altitude · slope · saddle · peaks · valleys · landform · mountain ridge · terrain · profile · intervals · land survey · scale · col · plateau · cliff
- Geographic Mapscity plans
- Mappingmap, compass rose, GPS, latitude, longitude
- mapsroad map, world map, atlases, street map, regional map
- British mapsroad atlas, street atlas, British Isles, atlases, English counties
- mountain mapsbenchmarks
- terrain mapsraised relief
maps, contour, mapping, contours, topography, contoured, cartography, topographic, contouring