hachure

Hachure is an old cartographic technique used to depict relief on maps. It involves drawing short lines that indicate the direction and steepness of a slope. These lines are drawn in the direction of the slope, with closer and thicker lines representing steeper terrain and sparser, thinner lines indicating gentler slopes.12

This method was largely replaced by contour lines, which connect points of equal elevation, as they offer a more precise representation of topography. While hachuring can be visually detailed and artistic, its use is now limited, primarily appearing on maps where relief is a secondary consideration. The term "hachure" comes from the French word "hacher," meaning "to chop up".13