What Is A Ridge On A Topographic Map

A ridge is a long narrow section of higher ground with lower ground sloping away On a topo map look for contour lines that form a “U” shape Ridges may connect several hilltops or they may slope gradually down in one direction Smaller ridges are also called spurs or fingers

How is a ridge represented on a topographic map?

Ridges are represented by “U” or “V” shaped contour lines with their closed end pointing towards lower elevation U-shaped contours indicate broader ridges, while V-shaped contours represent narrower and sharper ridge lines

What is a ridge in map reading?

A ridge or spur is denoted on a map by the contour lines becoming (U/V)-shaped When a contour line crosses a river or stream, they take on a (U/V)-shape When successive contour lines are far apart and evenly spaced, this is a (gentle/steep) slope or hill

How do you find ridges and valleys on a topographic map?

Valleys, Ravines and Gullies- Contour lines in a U-shaped pattern will indicate rounded gullies, and V-shaped lines will indicate sharp valleys and gullies Both the U and V shapes will point uphill toward higher elevations Ridges and Spurs- Contour lines will form a pattern of Vs and Us pointing downhill

What is ridge line in contouring?

Contours deflect uphill at valley lines and downhill at ridge lines Contour lines in U-shape cross a ridge and in V-shape cross a valley at right angles The concavity in contour lines is towards higher ground in the case of ridge and towards lower ground in the case of valley (Figure 1710)

How does a ridge look on a map?

On a map, a ridge is depicted as two contour lines (often of the same contour) running side by side at the same elevation for some distance When the lines diverge, the ridge is either flattening out to a high plateau or continues to rise with additional contour lines

What is the difference between a ridge and a mountain?

@peterf A mountain range is a series of mountains together in one region, such as the Pyrénées in France or the Andes A ridge is the top of a mountain usually flat and horizontal rather than than a point If the mountain ends in a point it is called a peak

What do lines on a map mean?

Put simply, contour lines mark points of equal elevation on a map A map with contour lines on it is called a topographic map Topographic maps use a combination of colors, shading and contour lines to represent changes in elevation and terrain shape

How do you find hills on a topographic map?

Concentric circles indicate a hill When contour lines form closed loops all together in the same area, this is a hill The smallest loops are the higher elevations and the larger loops are downhill

What is a draw on a topographic map?

A draw (US) or re-entrant (international) is a terrain feature formed by two parallel ridges or spurs with low ground in between them The area of low ground itself is the draw, and it is defined by the spurs surrounding it

What are saddle ridges?

Saddles and cols Whittow describes a saddle as “low point or col on a ridge between two summits”, whilst the Oxford Dictionary of English implies that a col is the lowest point on the saddle Monkhouse describes a saddle as a “broad, flat col in a ridge between two mountain summits”

How does a ridge and valley landscape arise?

As erosion began to shape the landscape, the hard layers of sandstone or chert resisted, while the soft areas of shale or limestone eroded more easily This process slowly developed into the ridges and valleys we see today and greatly influenced the soil composition of the two

What is the difference between a ridge and a spur?

A spur is a lateral ridge or tongue of land descending from a hill, mountain or main crest of a ridge It can also be defined as another hill or mountain range which projects in a lateral direction from a main hill or mountain range

What happens to contour lines across a valley?

Rule # 4- Contour lines that cross a valley or stream are V-shaped The water flows out of the opening of the V or U shape and the closed end points uphill Rule # 5- The spacing of contour lines depends on slope characteristics Closely spaced contour lines represent a steep slope

How will you distinguish between a valley line and a ridge line?

valley-Long depression in the terrain that has a narrow elevated side and a wide lower opening ridge-A continuous elevated terrain with sloping sides In the map represented by “U” or “V” shaped contour lines where the higher ground is in the wide opening

How do you identify a saddle on a topographic map?

Saddles To whitetail hunters, a saddle is simply a low spot on a ridge top Generally, it can be identified when contour lines are making a V or U shape off a ridge top that is pointing towards one another from two separate directions

How do you identify features on a topographic map?

Names of places and features are shown in a color cor- responding to the type of feature Many features are identified by labels, such as “Substation” or “Golf Course” Topographic contours are shown in brown by lines of different widths Each contour is a line of equal elevation; therefore, contours never cross

What is valley and spur?

A simple way to tell a valley from a spur when looking at contour lines is to remember that if the ‘V’ points uphill it’s a valley, if it points downhill it’s a spur Contours bunched together on either side of lower, more evenly spaced contours show a valley or col between two areas of high ground

What is the same meaning of ridge?

A ridge is a long, narrow, elevated strip of land or any raised strip or band From the Old English hrycg, meaning “back of the man or beast” or “the top or crest” of something (combined, the senses mean “backbone”), ridge is often used for the beam that joins the parts of a sloping roof

Where is the ridge on a mountain?

a long raised surface along the top of a mountain