Identifying Terrain Features On A Map

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a. Terrain features are identified in the same manner on all maps, regardless of the contour interval, but you

must realize that a hill in the Rocky Mountains will be much bigger than one in south Florida. You must be

able to recognize all the terrain features to locate a point on the ground or to navigate from one point to

another.

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Created by Amn N. Gordon

Hills

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1) Hill - A point or small area of high ground. When you are on a hilltop, the ground slopes down in all

directions

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Ridge

Ridge - A line of high ground with height variations along its crest. The ridge is not simply a line of hills; all

points of the ridge crest are higher than the ground on both sides of the ridge

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Saddle

Saddle - A dip or low point along the crest of a ridge. A saddle is not necessarily the lower ground between

two hilltops; it may be a break along an otherwise level ridge crest

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Valleys

(3) Valley - reasonably level ground bordered on the sides by higher ground. A valley may or may not contain

a stream course. A valley generally has maneuver room within its confines. Contour lines indicating a valley

are U Shaped and tend to parallel a stream before crossing it. The course of the contour line crossing the

stream always points upstream

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Depression

Depression - A low point or hole in the ground, surrounded on all sides by higher ground

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Draws

Draw - Similar to a valley, except that it normally is a less developed stream course in which there is

generally no level ground and, therefore, little or no maneuver room. The ground slopes upward

on each side and toward the head of the draw.

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Spir

Spir - A usually short, continuously sloping line of higher ground, normally jutting out from the side of a

ridge. A spur is often formed by two thoroughly parallel streams cutting draws down the side of a ridge

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Cliff

Cliff - A vertical or near-vertical slope. A cliff may be shown on a map by contour lines being.

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