How do contour lines typically behave across ridge lines?

Contour lines represent elevations on a map and provide essential information about the terrain's shape and slope. Across ridge lines, contour lines typically perform in a specific manner due to the nature of the landscape.

When considering ridge lines, which are elevated areas of land, contour lines indicate the highest points and the slopes that lead away from that elevation. As these lines approach a ridge, they tend to exhibit a characteristic V-shape, pointing downhill, due to the way elevation changes across the ridge. This arrangement effectively delineates the ridge's peak and its adjacent slopes, offering clear visual cues about the landform's structure.

Option C correctly highlights this behavior of contour lines across ridge lines, emphasizing their specific manner of portrayal. The other choices either mischaracterize the behavior of contour lines or inaccurately describe their relationship to terrain features. Understanding this relationship is crucial for interpreting topographic maps accurately and applying that knowledge in practical geodetic engineering scenarios.