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What do closely spaced contour lines on a topographic map indicate?

Public Comments

1. Steep slopes.
2. Rapid changes in elevation, eg. steep hills or cliffs.
3. It's a steep hill! Draw two grids of equally spaced lines on a sheet of paper. Now draw some wiggly 'contour circles' on the upper grid, some close together and others further apart. Take a ruler and, starting left or right of your 'circle' project the lines onto the lower grid and mark with a point. Now join up the points. You've got a hill which will be steeper where the points are closest together.
4. Closely spaced contour lines indicate a rapid change in elevation.