Here's what you need to know about them:
* They connect points of equal elevation. So, all points along a single contour line are at the same height above sea level.
* They never cross each other. If they did, it would mean a single point has two different elevations, which is impossible.
* Closely spaced contour lines indicate a steep slope. The closer the lines are together, the steeper the terrain.
* Widely spaced contour lines indicate a gentle slope. The farther apart the lines are, the more gradual the change in elevation.
* Contour lines form closed loops. They never have a beginning or an end on the map.
* Contour lines can be used to determine the elevation of specific points. You can estimate the elevation by looking at the contour lines around the point.
By understanding contour lines, you can interpret the terrain of a map and visualize the landscape.
