What distinguishes an intermediate contour line?

An intermediate contour line indicates minor elevation changes on a topographic map. Contour lines are used to represent the elevation of terrain, with index contour lines marking significant elevations at regular intervals, often labeled with their respective elevations. Intermediate contour lines, which fall between these index lines, show smaller changes in elevation, providing detailed information about the terrain's relief. This finer level of detail helps in understanding the gradual slopes and minor variations in the landscape that are not as pronounced as those indicated by the index contour lines. Therefore, recognizing the role of intermediate contour lines is critical for accurately interpreting maps, navigational planning, and other applications where understanding terrain variations is essential.