Recognizing LANDFORM FEATURES

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 map-reader 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

Hills are shown on a map by closed contour lines, often roughly circular in shape. (Generally less than 2,000 feet)
Mountains have greater elevation, but their contour plan is the same as hills.
______ is the name given to an isolated hill.
Figure A1 - Hill /

B) VALLEYS

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 ______ is a narrow valley with very steep sides.
Figure B1 – Valley
Figure B3 – U-Shaped Valley
Figure B2 – V- Shaped Valley /

C) ESCARPMENTS

An Escarpment is the steep slope of a ridge.
A ______ is the gentle slope of a ridge.
The contours of a scarp are straighter and closer together than those on the dip slope.
Figure C1 – Escarpment

D) PLATEAU

A plateau is
A dissect plateau is
Figure D1 – Plateau
Figure D2 – Dissect Plateau /

E) RIDGE

A ridge is an elongated or narrow strip of 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
Figure E2 – Knife-Edged Ridge /

F) SPUR

A spur is
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.