Höhenschichtkarte

Höhenschichtkarte is a type of topographic map in which terrain elevation is shown by color bands that correspond to fixed elevation intervals. It combines contour lines with hypsometric coloring to create a layered view of the landscape. The color ramp assigns each elevation range a distinct color, so areas at similar heights share hues. Contour lines may still be drawn to preserve exact height values, but the color shading provides an immediate sense of relief across the terrain.

Production typically relies on digital elevation data (DEM) or other elevation models. The elevation values are reclassified into a series of bands (for example every 10 or 50 meters) and assigned colors from a chosen ramp. The result can be displayed as a seamless gradient or as discrete color bands with boundaries aligned to the elevation steps. Contour lines may be overlaid for precision or omitted when a pure hypsometric effect is desired.

History and usage: The concept is closely related to hypsometric tinting and has been used in topographic mapping since the late 19th and early 20th centuries in national atlases and school maps. Höhenschichtkarten are common in educational materials, tourism maps, and modern digital maps because they allow quick assessment of terrain relief and elevation differences.

Advantages and limitations: Höhenschichtkarten provide an intuitive impression of terrain, enable rapid regional comparisons, and work well for overview maps. Limitations include potential misinterpretation due to color perception, the need for a clear legend, and reduced precision compared with contour-only representations.