How do you distinguish a basin from a mountain on a topographic map?

Question

How do you distinguish a basin from a mountain on a topographic map?

Answer 1

Basins are smooth areas between mountain peaks.  I gather you are talking about basin and range.  Think of them as mountain floors.  They are little indentations next to the peaks.  Mountains and basins run intertwined together sometimes.  The mountain is the top, the basin is the bottom.

On some topographic maps, they may be indistinguishable.

Answer 2

The numbers on the lines will be smaller toward the center of the basin and larger near the center of the mountain.  Also, most mountains seem to get the actual peak marked and its height indicated, while basins, being flatter and less interesting I suppose, do not have the deepest point marked.

Answer 3

If the basin is a true depression, the closed contour lines will have hash marks on the inside indicating decreasing elevation.  If the basin does not have a true depression its contour lines will open at some point on the map. A mountain's contour lines will always close.