Landmarks can be identified, based on their size and shape, and colour. Lighter areas are higher altitudes, and darker areas are lower altitudes. The other contributing factor is the shades used. So, the left image is indicating a cliff face, and the right image is a rolling hill. Therefore, using the above image, the sharp change indicates a 30m change in elevation over a short distance (left to right), whereas the slow change indicates the same change in elevation, over a much longer distance. While this map doesn't state this anywhere, you can assume that each line is drawn at a 10m interval, for example. When they are further apart, it indicates a very slow change in elevation.Įach line indicates a certain level of elevation. When the lines are close together, this indicates a sharp change in elevation.
The map is topographic, meaning it's a top-down view of the land, using lines (and shading) to indicate height and degrees of elevation.
