Recognising landforms
B
PLATEAU
ROUND HILL
C
A high, round piece of land. Contours form a
round or oval shape.
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fs
A
tsm
cfla.C
e
p
d
n
u
,ro
ig
An extensive area of flat land higher than the h
land surrounding it. Contours surround an area
with few or no contours.
DISTINCTIVE CONTOUR PATTERNS
Round hill
Ridge
100
0
800
600
SADDLE
850
800
600
400
Pa
ge
D
A
Pr
At first glance, topographic maps may
appear confusing, as they contain a
ffl
tsivaro
x
e
n
lot of information and have their own
language and symbols. Contour lines on a
topographic map join places that are the
same height above sea level. They form
patterns that show the shape of the land.
By examining the contour lines and the
distances between them, it is possible to
identify whether the land is flat or gently
sloping or has steep hills and valleys.
Contour lines represent a threedimensional landform on a twodimensional map. A skilled user of
topographic maps can recognise the
patterns of these contour lines and
visualise the shapes of landform features.
Some of the more recognisable landforms
are shown in C .
120
400
0
200
1225
Plateau
Gr
ey
sto
ne
Cliff
1000
an
da
Ja
ca
r
600
400
00
G
800
200
Saddle
Contour
(contour interval 200 metres)
River
400
G
1275 Spot height (in metres)
1050
800
VALLEY
H
SPUR
A finger-like ridge
that sticks out from
the side of a hill or
mountain. Contours
are U- or V-shaped,
pointing away from
high land.
A steep, almost vertical rocky slope. Contours are
very close together, almost on top of one another.
18
Spur
600
Valley
10
CLIFF
800
1275
1200
A long, narrow piece
of higher ground
with sloping sides
F
r
RIDGE
ve
E
Ri
An area of low land between two peaks. On
maps it is often the lower area between two
circular contour patterns.
Low land between hills or mountains,
usually with a river through it. Contours
form a U or V shape. The bottom of the
V or U points upstream.
I
TAMAR VALLEY, TASMANIA
44
43
42
41
39
38
Pr
37
36
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
SCALE 1 : 100 000
2
4
6
8
10
12
14 kilometres
Ja
ca
r
an
da
kilometres 0
98
Recognising landforms
34
Pa
ge
35
33
BUILDING SKILLS
oo
fs
40
ACTIVITIES
1 Examine the table below. Match the landform in the first column
with the correct description in the second column.
Landform
Description
Gentle slope
The lower area between two circular
contour patterns
Valley
Long, narrow piece of land. Contour
heights descend on either side.
Spur
Contours form circles.
Steep slopes or a cliff
Contours form a V shape pointing
uphill.
Small hill
Contours form a V shape pointing
downhill.
Saddle
Flat area surrounded by contours that
are close together
Plateau
Contours are close together.
Ridge
Contours are far apart.
2 Examine I and complete the following.
(a) What type of landform is represented in AR8740 and AR8741?
(i) Spur
(ii) Cliff
(iii) Saddle
(iv) Ridge
(b) A similar landform is located in which of these places?
(i) AR7941 and AR7942
(iii) AR9037 and AR9136
(ii) AR8335 and AR8236
(iv) AR9636 and AR9637
(c) What type of landform is represented by the contour pattern at
AR8634 and AR8535?
(i) Spur
(ii) Cliff
(iii) Saddle
(iv) Ridge
(d) What type of landform is represented by the contour pattern at
AR9736?
(i) Spur
(ii) Round hill (iii) Valley
(iv) Cliff
(e) Find another similar pattern on the map and give its area
reference.
(f) What type of landform is represented by the contour pattern at
AR8133?
(i) Valley
(ii) Ridge
(iii) Hill
(iv) Saddle
(g) Give area references for (i) a location on the map that is gently
sloping and (ii) a location that is very steep.
19