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RECOGNIZING LANDFORM FEATURES
Now that you are familiar with drawing contours from a framework of spot heights, it is important next
to identify the relief features represented by the contours. How do we represent hills, steep slopes, ridges
and plateau?
Since maps are flat, these landform features must be represented as flat. The real skill for any mapreader is his/her ability to look at a map and to imagine himself/herself in the 3 dimensional setting of the
actual region.
A) ROUND-TOPPED HILLS
B) VALLEYS
C) ESCARPMENTS
Hills are shown on a map by closed contour
lines, often roughly circular in shape.
(Generally less than 2,000 feet, 660 meters)
Valleys are low-lying areas, which penetrate
higher regions. They are easily recognized by
their V-shaped contours and by the presence of
streams & rivers.
Dry Valleys are valleys with no drainage, and
regions of porous rock.
A gorge is a narrow valley with very steep
sides.
Figure B1 – Valley
An Escarpment is the steep slope of a ridge.
Mountains have greater elevation, but their
contour plan is the same as hills.
Knoll is the name given to an isolated hill.
A Dip Slope is the gentle slope of a ridge.
The contours of a scarp are straighter and
closer together than those on the dip slope.
Figure A1 - Hill
Figure B3 – U-Shaped Valley
Figure B2 – V- Shaped Valley
Figure C1 – Escarpment
D) PLATEAU
E) RIDGE
F) SPUR
A plateau is a flat or almost flat area of
elevated land.
A ridge is an elongated or narrow strip of
A spur is a projection of highland into lowland.
This landform frequently separates one valley
from another. The contour pattern is V shaped
like that for a valley.
A dissect plateau is one which has been
eroded by a river & its tributaries.
Figure D1 – Plateau
highland. The contour pattern is not unlike
that for a plateau. A ridge, however, is
much narrower than a plateau. Sometimes
a ridge may be knife-edged.
Figure E1 – Flat Edged Ridge
The point of the V points towards the lowland,
where the point of the V in a valley points
towards the highland.
Figure F1 - Spur
G) PROMONTORY
A promontory is a headland that juts into the
sea. The contour pattern is the same as that
for a spur.
Figure D2 – Dissect Plateau
Figure E2 – Knife-Edged Ridge
CGF3M- RECOGNIZING LANDFORM FEATURES
Now that you are familiar with drawing contours from a framework of spot heights, it is important next
to identify the relief features represented by the contours. How do we represent hills, steep slopes, ridges
and plateau?
Since maps are flat, these landform features must be represented as flat. The real skill for any mapreader is his/her ability to look at a map and to imagine himself/herself in the 3 dimensional setting of the
actual region.
A) ROUND-TOPPED HILLS
B) VALLEYS
C) ESCARPMENTS
Hills
Valleys
An Escarpment
(Generally less than 2,000 feet)
Mountains
They are easily recognized by
their V-shaped contours and by the presence of
streams & rivers.
Dry Valleys
A Dip Slope
The contours of a scarp are straighter and
closer together than those on the dip slope.
A gorge is a
Knoll
Figure B1 – Valley
Figure A1 - Hill
Figure B3 – U-Shaped Valley
Figure B2 – V- Shaped Valley
Figure C1 – Escarpment
D) PLATEAU
E) RIDGE
F) SPUR
A plateau
A ridge
A spur
This landform frequently separates one valley
from another.
A dissect plateau
The contour pattern is not
unlike that for a plateau. A ridge, however,
is much narrower than a plateau.
Figure E1 – Flat Edged Ridge
Figure D1 – Plateau
Figure F1 - Spur
G) PROMONTORY
A promontory
The contour pattern is the same as
that for a spur.
Figure D2 – Dissect Plateau
Figure E2 – Knife-Edged Ridge