Etowah Valley Young Marines

Land Navigation

Introduction to Maps and Map Reading

• Introduction. Examples of types of maps are:• a. Political maps show countries, provinces or other political borders—

e.g. globes and atlases;• b. Street and road maps are designed to assist commuters and tourists;• c. A statistical map shows statistical information like the production levels

of crops or minerals across a country;• d. Relief maps are built to show a three dimensional view of the mapped

area;• e. Outline maps show only borders, rivers, coastlines, etc.;• f. Topographical maps show water, vegetation, structural and contour

details;• g. Orienteering maps are used for the sport of orienteering; and,• h. Air photomaps are the actual pictures used to create all these maps.

Map Symbols and Colors

Map Symbols and Colors. In mapmaking, symbols and color are used to represent all the information. Colors can show area

features like lakes, forests, and cleared fields; or can be used to illustrate information about a symbol—e.g. marsh symbols are printed in blue, and orchard symbols are in green. Symbols are used to illustrate different objects or features, both those that appear at points (e.g. rivers). Symbols and colors used on a

map are commonly referred to as “conventional signs.”

Land Navigation

Conventional Signs

Conventional Signs

• The five basic colors of a topographical map are:- Red—is used for paved roads and highway numbers—it is also used to shade in areas of urban development;

• - Brown—is used for contour lines, contour elevations, spot elevations, sand, cliffs, and

other geological features;

The five basic colors of a topographical map are:

• Blue—is used for water or permanent ice features (like rivers, lakes, swamps and ice

fields), names of water features, and the grid lines;

• Green—is used for vegetation features like woods, orchards and vineyards;

• Black—is used for cultural features (buildings, railways, transmission lines, etc.), toponymy (place names), some symbols and precise elevations.

Map and Compass Terms The following terms are used in map reading:

Contour line – A contour line is a line on the map joining points of equal elevation above sea level. Contour lines are drawn on maps to give you a three-dimensional view of the ground.

Map and Compass Terms The following terms are used in map reading:

Hill – A hill is a point or small area of high ground. When you are located on a hilltop the ground slopes down in all directions. A hill is shown on a map by a number of closed contour lines.

Map and Compass Terms The following terms are used in map reading:

Saddle – A saddle is the low ridge between two peaks.

Map and Compass Terms The following terms are used in map reading:

Cliff – A cliff is a near vertical slope. The closer the lines are to each other, the steeper the slope. A cliff will be shown on a map by the close contour lines that touch or have tick marks on them. These tick marks will point towards the lower ground.

Valley – A valley is level ground bordered on the sides by higher ground. Contour lines indicating a valley are somewhat U-shaped.

Map and Compass Terms The following terms are used in map reading:

Map and Compass Terms The following terms are used in map reading:

Depression – A depression is a low point or hole in the ground surrounded on all sides by higher ground.