Land Navigation

Ridge

A sloping line of high ground that, in the center, has low ground in three directions and high ground in one. Contour lines form a U or V shape with the closed ends pointing away from high ground.

Saddle

A saddle is a dip or low point between two areas of high ground. Not necessarily the lower ground, just a dip or break. Represented as an hourglass or figure 8 shape in contour lines.

Depression

A depression is a low point or hole in the ground. It appears on a map as a circle with tick marks pointing towards lower ground.

Draw

A draw is a less developed stream course than a valley. There is no level ground in a draw. On a map a draw is represented with U or V shapes pointing toward high ground