What is a defining characteristic of topographic maps?

Topographic maps are distinct in their use of contour lines to represent elevation changes across a terrain. These lines illustrate the shape and height of the land, allowing users to visualize mountainous areas, valleys, slopes, and flat plains effectively. The spacing of these contour lines indicates how steep or gradual a slope is: closely spaced lines represent steep areas, while widely spaced lines indicate gentle slopes.

This characteristic is essential for various applications, such as hiking, planning construction projects, or land surveying, as it provides crucial information about the physical landscape. By contrast, maps that focus on political regions typically emphasize administrative boundaries, and those showing roads and urban infrastructure concentrate on human-made features, while maps detailing historical landmarks would not prioritize the elevation and terrain features that define topographic maps.