How come contour lines never intersect?

Question

Please help me this is for earth science.

Thank you for helping me

Answer 1

Contour lines on a map indicate elevation. So a particular line may be (for example) 100 meters above sea level, while another would be 200 meters above sea level.

For those lines to intersect, there would have to be a point that was BOTH 100 AND 200 meters above sea level. But since a piece of ground, pretty much by definition, can only have ONE elevation, then you can never have lines that intersect.

They may SEEM to when they get really, really close. But they don't.

Answer 2

Contour lines show a certain elevation on the surface. since no 2 elevations are at the exact point, the lines will not intersect. But, if there is a straight vertical wall they will be over eachother. They still would not intersect though.

Answer 3

Contour lines show land of equal height. It is impossible for them to intersect.

Answer 4

Actually, if the contours represent elevations, they can intersect (but usually don't). This would happen at a saddle point, such as a mountain pass, which is a maximum elevation if you come to it from one direction, but a minimum if you come from another direction.