* Steeper slopes: Mountainous areas have much steeper slopes compared to flat plains or rolling hills. A larger contour interval allows the map to represent these significant changes in elevation more effectively. If the interval was too small, the contours would become too crowded and difficult to read.
* Wider range of elevations: Mountains have a much wider range of elevations compared to flatter areas. A larger interval allows for the representation of this wide range without sacrificing clarity.
* Map scale: Topographic maps of mountainous areas often use a smaller scale to cover a wider area. This smaller scale means less space on the map to represent elevation changes, making larger contour intervals necessary.
Think of it this way: imagine a map of a flat field with a contour interval of 1 meter. You'd have hundreds of lines, making the map difficult to read. However, in a mountainous area with a 100-meter interval, the contours would still clearly show the significant changes in elevation without being overly crowded.
In short, larger contour intervals on mountainous maps are necessary to represent the dramatic changes in elevation in a clear and readable way.
