SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/scout-contour-lines

On a topographic map, what does a contour line connect?

Points of equal elevation.

  1. Points that are all at the same elevation ✔
  2. Points that are all the same distance from camp
  3. Points along the same hiking trail

Why: A contour line is an imaginary line joining points of equal height above sea level. Walk along one and you would never go uphill or downhill.

Huh, didn't know that: On USGS topo maps, contour lines are printed in brown.

The dad joke
Contour lines are very level-headed.
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Sources

  1. USGS: Topographic Map Symbols https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/TopographicMapSymbols/topomapsymbols.pdf

Test yourself in the game

Outdoors & CampingContour lines on your map are packed very close together. What does that mean?Outdoors & CampingWhat is the contour interval on a topographic map?Outdoors & CampingWhy do contour lines on a topo map never cross each other?

That's stuff everyone should know.