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Interpreting the colored lines, areas, and other symbols is the first step in using topographic maps. Features are shown as points, lines, or areas, depending on their size and extent. For example, individual houses may be shown as small black squares.
map is a representation of the Earth, or part of it. The distinctive character-istic of a topographic map is that the shape of the Earth’s surface is shown by contour lines. Contours are imag-inary lines that join points of equal elevation on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface, such as mean sea level.
A map symbol or cartographic symbol is a graphical device used to visually represent a real-world feature on a map, working in the same fashion as other forms of symbols.
Map symbols are the visual tools used in cartography to represent real-world features on a map. These symbols, ranging from simple dots to intricate icons, serve as a bridge between the physical world and its graphical representation.
This simple map reading guide explains every map symbol on an OS Explorer map (1: 25 000 scale), most popular for walking and cycling. Learn what each map symbol represents on the ground and how you can find points of interest, access land and public rights of way to make the most of your time outside.
The USGS Topographic Maps use symbols or colors to represent features, and this Topographic Map Key explains what they mean. Contour lines are distinctive to the topographic maps but there are other features shown on the maps including buildings, water and vegetation.
In GIS, we use map symbology to depict features on a map. We can break vector symbols into points, lines, and polygons. We can have color ramps for continuous and discrete data for raster symbols. Finally, 3D symbols add depth and dimension with their own map symbols. Below are some examples of map symbols.
Maps published 2013-present: US Topo maps have a symbol sheet attached to the map file (PDF format only). Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat and click on the paperclip icon. Maps published 1947-2009: See the Topographic Map Symbols pamphlet. Most of these symbols are still in use.
The set of symbols and their appropriate use on National Topographic System (NTS) maps is described by a specific set of rules: Standards and Specifications for Polychrome Maps. This guide ensures uniform depiction of land features on both 1/50 000 and 1/250 000 maps.
Maps represent information by using a language of symbols. Knowing how to read these symbols provides access to a wide range of information. Every map has a story to tell, but first you have to...