Do contours on opposite sides of a stream have the same value or different values?

Do contours on opposite sides of a stream have the same value or different values?

• A. Same
• B. Different
• C. Sometimes
• D. Unknown

Answer: (A)

Contours are lines of equal elevation on the land. The stream sits in a valley, but the elevation of the ground at a given height above sea level is the same on both sides of the stream. So a contour line representing that elevation will appear on both banks, looping around the valley as needed. The water in the stream doesn’t change the land’s elevation, only the surface water level within the valley. That’s why the same contour value can be found on opposite sides of the stream.

Contours are lines of equal elevation on the land. The stream sits in a valley, but the elevation of the ground at a given height above sea level is the same on both sides of the stream. So a contour line representing that elevation will appear on both banks, looping around the valley as needed. The water in the stream doesn’t change the land’s elevation, only the surface water level within the valley. That’s why the same contour value can be found on opposite sides of the stream.