Hachures
Topic: Topographical Maps: Relief Representation and Interpretation · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Topographical Maps"
Meaning
Hachures are short lines that show relief, meaning the highs and lows of the land. They are drawn along the direction of the steepest slope, so they run across the contours. On steep ground the lines are thick and close together. On gentle ground they are thin and wide apart. Hachures show how steep the land is, but they give no exact heights.
Example
On a hachure sketch of the Western Ghats, the lines would be thick and crowded along the steep western face above the Konkan coast in Maharashtra. They would be thin and spread out on the gentle eastern slope down towards the Deccan Plateau.
Don't confuse with
- Hill shading: this shows slopes as light and dark areas, as if light falls on them. Hachures use separate drawn lines. Neither method gives exact heights.
- Contours: these are lines joining places of equal height, and they do give exact heights.