When describing the relief of the area shown on a map, the following can be followed.

1.   Name the nature of the landscape shown on the map for example it is generally mountainous/ highland /hilly, plain /relatively flat/ gently sloping /lowland; plateau/ dissected plateau etc. The table below can guide us.

Height	Mature of landscape
0-250 m	Plain, relatively flatland  valley lowland  etc.
250    -1500 m	Plateau area
150    - 6000 m	Highland and mountain range.

2.   State the highest point (height recorded)

3.   State the lowest point (height recorded)

4.   State the amplitude = highest point -lowest points

5.   State the average height = highest point + lowest point    

                                                                   2         

6.   State where:

7.   State the general tilting of the land i.e. the land is generally sloping Eastwards, or Southwards or Westwards etc.

8.   State the major relief features for example conical hill, flat topped hill, dissected plateau, ridges with saddles and cols, escarpments, valleys, spurs, basins etc. All are shown in the diagrams below.

9.   Whenever there are rivers, the relief features are river valleys, there two types of river valleys such as broad wide river valleys for those in mature in and old stages and narrow V- shaped steep sided river valleys for rivers in the youthful stage.

10. Where there is a lake, the relief feature is a Lake Basin or depression.

11. Where there is a swamp, the relief feature is a low-lying area

1. Conical hill                              2. Flat topped hill

                      

 

3.  Ridge                                      4. Dip slope and Scarp Slope

  

5. Plateau                                 6. Dissected Plateau

         

                                             Spur      River       spur

6.  Saddle, Col, Pass

8. Spur and Valley

 Watershed/Divide