Contour lines close together indicate what?

Contour lines close together indicate what?

• A. Indicate gentle slope
• B. Indicate water features
• C. Indicate no slope
• D. Indicate steep slope

Answer: (D)

Contour lines show how elevation changes across the terrain, and the spacing between them indicates how steep the ground is. When lines are close together, elevation changes quickly over a short distance, so the slope is steep. If lines are far apart, the elevation changes more gradually, indicating a gentle slope. A flat area would have little or no elevation change, so you’d see no lines or lines spaced far apart; water features are shown in blue and aren’t determined by contour spacing. So, tight contour spacing means a steep slope.

Contour lines show how elevation changes across the terrain, and the spacing between them indicates how steep the ground is. When lines are close together, elevation changes quickly over a short distance, so the slope is steep. If lines are far apart, the elevation changes more gradually, indicating a gentle slope. A flat area would have little or no elevation change, so you’d see no lines or lines spaced far apart; water features are shown in blue and aren’t determined by contour spacing. So, tight contour spacing means a steep slope.