Map Skills

Question 1

How to describe relief?

Answer 1

• the height of the land, including spot heights
• the slope of the land, flat or sloping, gentle or steep
• any features, valley (pointing up) or spur (pointing down)

Question 2

How to describe drainage patterns on a map?

Answer 2

• the direction the river is flowing in
• the size of the river
• any features (confluences, meanders)
• high or low drainage density
• gradient of land
• drainage patterns
• human activity (lake, reservoir)

Question 3

What are the different drainage patterns?

Answer 3

Dendritic - tree-like pattern
Radial - streams flow outwards from a central point
Trellised - streams meet at right angles forming a rectangular pattern