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Difficulty: MediumContour Lines and Relief Representation

Match each contour line pattern listed on the left with the corresponding relief landform it represents on the right.

  • Concentric closed contour lines with elevation values decreasing towards the centerDepression or Basin
  • V-shaped contour lines with the apex of the V pointing towards higher groundRiver Valley or Stream Bed
  • Closely spaced contours at higher elevation changing to widely spaced contours at lower elevationConcave Slope
  • Two adjacent sets of closed high-elevation contours separated by a narrow lower dipSaddle or Col

Answer

The correct matches are: Concentric closed contours decreasing inward match with Depression or Basin; V-shaped contours pointing uphill match with River Valley or Stream Bed; Contours closely spaced above and widely spaced below match with Concave Slope; Two high closed contour sets separated by a narrow dip match with Saddle or Col.
Each contour pattern corresponds directly to a distinct landform: inward-decreasing closed contours represent a depression; uphill-pointing V-contours mark a river valley; steep-then-gentle contour density indicates a concave slope; and a low ridge between two peaks forms a saddle or col.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze contour spacing and elevation trends for closed ring patterns.
Decreasing values toward the center signify a depression rather than a hill summit.
Topographic elevation decreases toward the middle in depressions.
2
Examine V-shaped contour orientation relative to elevation values.
The apex pointing toward higher terrain indicates water flow direction down the valley line.
Valleys cut into terrain such that contour V-shapes point up-valley toward higher ground.
3
Evaluate contour density variations from higher to lower elevations.
Steep slope near the top transition to gentle slope at the bottom defines a concave profile.
Contour spacing directly correlates with slope steepness (close = steep, wide = gentle).
4
Identify relief between two high hilltops.
The low region connecting two summits represents a saddle or col.
A saddle is formed by the low area between two surrounding high points.

Key Concept

Relief Representation and Contour Patterns
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Topics

Contour Lines and Relief Representation

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