WebProNews

Contour lines don't come up on a daily basis; it's rare enough that anyone even checks a map.  But contour lines do have a number of uses, and Google has just introduced the lines on its Terrain Maps option within Google Maps.

 Mount Everest's Contour Lines

A bit of explanation may be necessary here, and since my Boy Scout handbook is long lost, Iljya Kalai's explanation on the LatLong Blog should do the trick.  Kalai writes, "Contour lines depict elevation change by connecting points of equal elevation.  Where contour lines are close together, you can expect a steep slope; where they are spread out, you can expect flatter terrain.  They help highlight the elevation of areas like cities or plains where shading alone doesn't capture gradual changes in elevation."

So if you're going hiking, biking, or even driving (steep and narrow roads are no fun in icy conditions), contour lines can come in handy.  Plan easy or challenging routes as you please.

Of course, the implementation of contour lines may not be perfect - Frank Taylor feels hikers will need a higher degree of resolution.  But since the lines could and/or should have come along when Google first introduced Terrain Maps in November, it's nice that they've been included in any condition now.

Contour lines appear to have been applied worldwide, although the land around WebProNews's headquarters turned out to be disappointingly flat.