GeographyCBSE Class 11 · Topographical Maps

Landforms from Contours, Cross-Sections and Interpretation of Topographical Maps (Class 11 Practical Work in Geography, Chapter 5)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Landforms show on contour maps as typical patterns: concentric contours for a conical hill, V-shaped contours pointing to higher ground for a valley, V-shapes pointing to lower ground for a spur, merging contours for a cliff or waterfall. A cross-section is drawn by marking contours along a line AB on a strip, and a sheet is interpreted under marginal information, relief and drainage, land use, transport and settlements.

Check which way the V points: towards higher ground means a valley with a stream, towards lower ground means a spur; even rings mean a conical hill.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Landforms from Contours, Drawing Cross-Sections and Interpreting a Topographical Sheet

Why this topic matters. Identification of landforms, a cross-section and a short interpretation make up the written practical for this chapter.

1. Landforms by contour pattern.

Conical hill: concentric contours at almost regular intervals.
Plateau: contours close at the margins, with a wide gap inside the innermost contour.
V-shaped valley: the innermost contour has the lowest value and a very small gap; values increase outward.
U-shaped (glacial) valley: flat wide floor and steep sides; innermost contour with a wide gap.
Gorge: very closely spaced contours with a small gap at the innermost contour.
Spur: V-shaped contours with arms towards higher ground and apex towards lower ground.
Cliff: contours very close, merging into one.
Waterfall: contours merge while crossing the stream; rapids by relatively distant contours across the stream.

In a valley the V points to higher ground (upstream) and the lowest value lies inside; in a spur the apex points down and the highest value lies inside.

2. Cross-section (profile). A side view along a straight line. Steps: draw a line AB across the contours; place the edge of a paper strip along AB; mark the position and value of each contour that cuts AB; choose a vertical scale (for example 1/2 cm = 100 m) and draw parallel horizontal lines of the length of AB, numbered with contour values from the lowest; transfer the marks to the bottom line; draw perpendiculars up to the line of the same value; join the points smoothly.

3. Settlements. Studied by site, location, pattern, alignment and density. Rural types: compact, scattered, linear, circular. Site factors: water source, food supply, relief, occupation, defence. Density is related to food supply. Linear settlements lie along a river valley, road, embankment or coast. A cross-road town is fan-shaped with the crossing as the main market; in a nodal town roads radiate in all directions.

4. Interpretation. First find the north line, scale and legend. Heads: (i) marginal information (sheet number, extent, scale, districts); (ii) relief and drainage (landforms, slope, rivers, drainage patterns); (iii) land use (forests, agriculture, orchards, industry, services); (iv) transport and communication (roads, railways, tracks, post offices); (v) settlements and occupations. Procedure: use the index number to locate the area, note scale and contour interval, trace each theme on separate tracing sheets, describe the patterns and superimpose pairs to find relationships (for example contours over land use).

Landforms from Contours, Drawing Cross-Sections and Interpreting a Topographical Sheet: key facts

Valley versus spur: Valley: V points to higher ground, lowest value inside | Spur: apex points to lower ground, highest value inside; Opposite V.
Steep features: Gorge very close contours
Cliff contours merge
Waterfall contours merge across a stream; Vertical features.
Cross-section: $L in e A B ∣ S t r i p o f p a p er ∣ V er t i c a l sc a l es u c ha s 1/2 c m = 100 m ∣ P er p e n d i c u l a r s ∣ S m oo t h c u r v e$; Side view.
Interpretation heads: Marginal information
Relief and drainage
Land use
Transport and communication
Settlements; Five heads.

Gorge	very close contours
Cliff	contours merge
Waterfall	contours merge across a stream

How to answer Landforms from Contours, Drawing Cross-Sections and Interpreting a Topographical Sheet questions

A contour-landform item is answered from the pattern.

1Describe the spacing (close, wide, merging).
2Describe the shape (concentric, V-shaped) and the direction of the V.
3Give the height values inside and outside.
4Name the landform and one consequence (stream, settlement).

Landforms from Contours, Drawing Cross-Sections and Interpreting a Topographical Sheet in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Stream on a hill map

Suppose a contour map shows V-shaped contours whose apex points up the slope (to higher ground), with the lowest value in the middle and a stream line through them.

What landform is shown and where does the stream flow?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The V points to higher ground.
This is a valley with the stream flowing down the V towards lower ground.

Answer: A V-shaped valley with a stream flowing towards the open end.

Memory hook: V up means valley.

Village on a road junction

Suppose a settlement is fan-shaped with houses along four roads meeting at a market in the middle.

Which urban type is this?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Houses lie along roads crossing at the heart.
This is a cross-road town.

Answer: A cross-road town.

Memory hook: Crossing at the heart.

Tricks to remember Landforms from Contours, Drawing Cross-Sections and Interpreting a Topographical Sheet

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

V up is valley, V down is spur
Direction of the V
Use it when: Valley and spur.
Merging means vertical
Cliff and waterfall
Use it when: Vertical features.
MRLTS
Marginal info, Relief, Land use, Transport, Settlements
Use it when: Interpretation heads.

Landforms from Contours, Drawing Cross-Sections and Interpreting a Topographical Sheet: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Cliff · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Contours merging into one line indicate a:
(A) conical hill
(B) plateau
(C) cliff
(D) U-shaped valley

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Merging contours show a vertical face (1 mark).

Answer: (C)

Example 2: Spur · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

How is a spur shown on a contour map? (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

V-shaped contours (1 mark).
Apex points to lower ground and arms to higher ground (1 mark).

Answer: A spur is shown by V-shaped contours whose apex points towards lower ground, the arms pointing to higher ground, with the highest value inside.

Example 3: V and U valleys · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Distinguish between V-shaped and U-shaped valleys on a contour map. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

V-shaped: innermost contour has lowest value and a very small gap (1 mark).
U-shaped: innermost contour has a wide gap, flat floor and steep sides (1 mark).
V-shaped valleys occur in mountains; U-shaped are glacial (1 mark).

Answer: In a V-shaped valley the innermost contour has the lowest value and only a very small gap, and the valley is found in mountains. A U-shaped valley, formed by glaciers, has a flat wide floor and steep sides, so the innermost contour has a wide gap, with values increasing outward in both.

Example 4: Assertion and reason: valley and spur · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): A valley and a spur have V-shaped contours but opposite pointing directions.
Reason (R): In a valley the V points to higher ground, while in a spur the apex points to lower ground.
(A) Both true, R explains A
(B) Both true, R does not explain A
(C) A true, R false
(D) A false, R true

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The reason states the opposite directions that are the difference (1 mark).

Answer: (A)

Example 5: HOTS: vertical exaggeration · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

A cross-section is drawn from a 1:50,000 map with a vertical scale of 1/2 cm = 100 m. Find the horizontal scale as 1 cm = ? km, the vertical scale as 1 cm = ? m, and the vertical exaggeration (vertical scale ratio compared with horizontal). Explain why a cross-section often uses a larger vertical scale. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Horizontal: 1 cm = 50,000 cm = 0.5 km (1 mark).
Vertical: 1/2 cm = 100 m, so 1 cm = 200 m (1 mark).
Vertical R.F. = 1:20,000 and horizontal 1:50,000 (1 mark).
Vertical exaggeration = 50,000 / 20,000 = 2.5 (1 mark).
Heights are small compared with horizontal distance, so a larger vertical scale makes relief visible (1 mark).

Answer: On a 1:50,000 map 1 cm stands for 50,000 cm = 0.5 km horizontally. The vertical scale 1/2 cm = 100 m gives 1 cm = 200 m = 20,000 cm, i.e. 1:20,000. The vertical exaggeration is 50,000 / 20,000 = 2.5 times (this term is derived here from the two scales). Heights are small compared with horizontal distances, so using a larger vertical scale makes the relief of the profile easy to see.

Where students lose marks in Landforms from Contours, Drawing Cross-Sections and Interpreting a Topographical Sheet

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Drawing a valley with the V pointing down
Direction reversed.
Wrong working
V-shaped contours with apex downhill show a valley.
Right working
Valley: V points up to higher ground; spur: apex down.
Do this: Check the values inside.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Not numbering cross-section lines from the lowest
Order error.
Wrong working
Number lines from the highest contour.
Right working
Start from the lowest contour value.
Do this: Follow the steps.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Writing the cross-section with straight segments
Join-the-dots.
Wrong working
Join points with straight lines.
Right working
Join points smoothly to show the profile.
Do this: Use a smooth curve.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Describe contour values as well as the shape when naming a landform.
Label the vertical scale and horizontal scale on every cross-section.
Keep the five interpretation heads as a checklist.

Practice questions on Landforms from Contours, Drawing Cross-Sections and Interpreting a Topographical Sheet

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
In a valley, the V-shaped contours point towards:
(A) lower ground
(B) higher ground
(C) the sea
(D) the north
Hint
Upstream.
Answer
(B)
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
Name three site factors for rural settlements. (2 marks)
Hint
Water, food, relief.
Answer
Water source, food supply, relief, occupation and defence are site factors; any three.
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Describe the steps for drawing a cross-section from a contour map. (3 marks)
Hint
Strip of paper.
Answer
Draw line AB across the contours; place a paper strip on AB and mark each contour with its value; draw parallel horizontal lines to a chosen vertical scale numbered from the lowest contour value; transfer the marks to the bottom line, draw perpendiculars to the line of the same value and join the points smoothly.
Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
What are the heads under which a topographical sheet is interpreted? Give one point under two of them. (3 marks)
Hint
Five heads.
Answer
The heads are marginal information, relief and drainage, land use, transport and communication, and settlements. Under relief and drainage one notes landforms, slope and drainage patterns; under transport one notes highways, railways and tracks.
Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
A map shows a fan-shaped settlement at a road crossing, a linear settlement along a river bank and scattered homes on a hill slope. Name each pattern and give one likely reason for each location. (4 marks)
Hint
Site factors.
Answer
The fan-shaped settlement is a cross-road town, located where roads meet, with the crossing as the main market. The linear settlement follows the river valley, near a water source and flat land. The scattered homes on the hill slope suggest a dispersed settlement where relief and food supply limit clustering.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Where does the V point in a valley?Show answer
Towards higher ground.
2.Which contours merge at a waterfall?Show answer
Contours crossing the stream.
3.What does MRLTS stand for?Show answer
Marginal info, Relief, Land use, Transport, Settlements.
4.What is a nodal town?Show answer
A town where roads radiate in all directions.

Landforms from Contours, Drawing Cross-Sections and Interpreting a Topographical Sheet: frequently asked questions

What is a profile?

A cross-section: a side view along a line.

How do we find north on a sheet?

Locate the north line and orient the map first.

Why trace themes on separate sheets?

So that pairs can be superimposed to find relationships.