relief map

A relief map is a map that represents topographic relief, showing the physical features of the land. These maps use various techniques to depict elevation and the shape of the terrain.1

Common methods for showing relief include:
* Contours: Lines connecting points of equal elevation. These are the most common and satisfactory way to show relief.2
* Hill shading: Also known as shaded relief, this technique uses shading to simulate how sunlight would hit the terrain, giving a sense of depth and form.2
* Layer or altitude tinting: Different elevation ranges are colored differently to distinguish them.2

Relief maps often exaggerate the vertical scale to make significant features more visible, as the Earth's actual features are relatively smooth when viewed at a true scale. This exaggeration is typically explained in the map's legend.2