Which of the following is NOT a major terrain feature?

• A. Hill
• B. Valley
• C. Forest
• D. Depression

Answer: (C)

Major terrain features are the large, continuous landforms that shape how you move and orient yourself on a map and in the terrain: hills, ridges, valleys, saddles, depressions, and draws. These are ground shapes you can identify by contour lines and on the ground as distinct physical features. Forest, by contrast, describes vegetation cover rather than a landform. It affects concealment and movement but doesn’t represent a change in the ground’s shape. Because of that, forest isn’t classified as a major terrain feature. The other options—hill, valley, and depression—are classic major terrain features because they denote clear, large ground forms.