What do the colors on the contour map of Balmhorn (3698m) mean?

The contour map uses a hypsometric color scale where green represents lower elevations, yellow and orange indicate mid-range altitudes, and white marks the highest zones near the summit. Thicker contour lines (index contours) are drawn at wider intervals to help you quickly estimate elevation.

What is the contour interval for Balmhorn (3698m)?

The contour map of Balmhorn (3698m) uses a 100m contour interval. This means each line represents a 100m change in elevation. Closely spaced contours indicate steeper terrain, while widely spaced contours show gentler slopes.

What does the elevation profile of Balmhorn (3698m) show?

The elevation profile is a cross-section through Balmhorn (3698m) from west to east, passing through the summit at 3,698m. It reveals the mountain's shape, steepness, and relative height compared to the surrounding terrain. The horizontal axis shows distance in kilometers from the peak.

What is the snow line on Balmhorn (3698m)?

At Balmhorn (3698m)'s latitude (46°), the estimated permanent snow line is approximately 3,200m. Since Balmhorn (3698m) reaches 3,698m, about 498m of the mountain extends above the snow line. This is shown as a dashed blue line on the elevation profile.

Why does Balmhorn (3698m) have elongated ridges?

Balmhorn (3698m) was formed by tectonic folding, which compressed rock layers into long, parallel ridges. The contour map shows elongated lines that follow the axis of the fold, rather than circular patterns.

Balmhorn (3698m)

Balmhorn stands at 3698 meters in Switzerland, part of the Bernese Alps, Europe. This peak is classified as a Fold Mountain.

Elevation

3698 m

Prominence

— m

Coordinates

46.413333, 7.685278

Type

fold_mountain

Elevation Comparison

About This Mountain

Balmhorn (3698m) is a fold mountain in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland. Grade 3/5: strenuous climb with technical sections. A classic Alpine objective with varied terrain attracting mountaineers and experienced hikers seasonally.

Routes

Normal Route (Balmhorn) 3

12.00 km · 7.0h

Seasonal Conditions

Topographic Analysis

Contour Map

The topographic contour map of Balmhorn (3698m) in the Bernese Alps shows elongated parallel contours following the ridge axis. Contour lines are drawn at 100m intervals, with index contours (thicker lines) every 500m. The hypsometric color scale ranges from green (lower elevations) through yellow and orange to white (highest elevations near the 3,698m summit). Above 3,200m, the estimated snow line at this latitude, contours transition to cooler tones indicating permanent snow and ice.

Elevation Profile

The east–west elevation profile of Balmhorn (3698m) in the Bernese Alps shows the terrain cross-section through the summit at 3,698m. The color gradient transitions from green (valley floor) to white (summit zone), with the red summit marker indicating the peak. The dashed blue snow line at 3,200m marks the approximate elevation above which permanent snow persists year-round.