What pattern do contour lines form to indicate a ridge?

What pattern do contour lines form to indicate a ridge?

• A. Contours forming a successive 'V' or 'U' pattern
• B. Contours forming a circular pattern
• C. Contours crossing themselves
• D. Contours parallel to a water body

Answer: (A)

Contours lines wrap around the high crest and form a sequence of V or U shapes along a ridge. The tips of those Vs (or the openings of the Us) point toward the higher ground, marking the ridge as the elevated feature the lines encircle. The lines run parallel along the crest and tighten on the flanks, which is why you see this repeated V or U pattern tracing the long rise. In contrast, a circular loop indicates a standalone hill, contours parallel to a river indicate a valley, and crossing lines would signal an error.