1. CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS
Contours have the following significant characteristics: · All points on a given contour have the same elevation. · A contour on the ground closes on itself. A contour may close within a map, or it may be discontinued at any two points at the borders of the map. Such points mark the limits of the contour on the map, but the contour does not end at those points.

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS
· The direction of a contour at any point is at right angles to the direction of the steepest slope of the ground at that point. · Contours on the ground cannot cross one another, nor can contours having different elevations come together and continue as one line. However, where an overhanging cliff or cave is represented on a map, contours on the map may cross. The lower contour must then be shown dotted. At a vertical ledge or wall, two or more contours may merge.

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS
· The horizontal distance between adjacent contours indicates the steepness of the slope of the ground between the contours. Where the contours are relatively close together, the slope is comparatively steep, and where the contours are far apart the slope is gentle.

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS
As a contour approaches a stream, the contour turns upstream until it intersects the shore line. It then crosses the stream and turns back along the opposite bank of the stream. If the stream has an appreciable width on the map, the contour is not drawn across the stream but is discontinued at the shore with which it merges.

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