Spot elevation on topo maps is characterized as which of the following?

• A. Less accurate than bench marks but more accurate than contour lines
• B. More accurate than bench marks
• C. Only used for coastal areas
• D. Not used in topo maps

Answer: (A)

Spot elevations are exact height measurements at a single point on a topo map. They are more precise than the elevation you’d infer from contour lines, which are interpolated between lines and can miss local highs or lows. But they’re not as authoritative as a benchmark, which is a fixed, officially published elevation tied to a datum and established with rigorous surveying. So spot elevations are generally less accurate than benchmarks but more accurate than contour lines. This concept applies broadly and isn’t limited to coastal areas.