Steep slope
Topic: Topographical Maps: Relief Representation and Interpretation · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Topographical Maps"
Meaning
A steep slope is ground that rises or falls sharply over a short distance. On a topographical map, it shows as contour lines packed close together, because the same height is climbed in a short ground distance. When the slope becomes almost vertical, the contours touch and merge into one line. Steep slopes are often left under forest, because they are hard to farm and prone to landslides.
Example
The western face of the Western Ghats drops steeply to the Konkan coast in Maharashtra. On a toposheet, the contours along this face are crowded close together. On the Deccan side to the east, they spread out.
Don't confuse with
- Cliff: a cliff is the extreme case, an almost vertical face where the contours actually merge. On an ordinary steep slope they are close together but still separate.
- Convex slope: this is steep only in its lower part and gentle on top. It is not steep all the way.
Related concepts
- Contour line
- Contour interval
- Horizontal equivalent
- Gentle slope
- Concave slope
- Convex slope
- Undulating slope