HOW TO READ A

MAP
 STEP 1
Choose The Correct Type Of Map
Topographic Map
 Knowing how to read a
map, especially
topographic, is the most
important thing for
hikers. It shows detailed
information about the
terrain, roads, points of
interest and distances.
Topographic Map
 A topographic map is a
detailed and accurate
illustration of man-made
and natural features on the
ground such as roads,
railways, power
transmission lines, contours,
elevations, rivers, lakes and
geographical names.
Topographic Map
 The topographic map is
a two-dimensional
representation of the
Earth’s three-
dimensional landscape.
 What information is on a topographic
map?

Topographic maps identify numerous ground features,

which can be grouped into the following categories:

Relief: mountains, valleys, slopes, depressions as

defined by contours
 What information is on a topographic
map?

Topographic maps identify numerous ground features,

which can be grouped into the following categories:

Hydrography: lakes, rivers, streams, swamps,

rapids, falls
 What information is on a topographic
map?

Topographic maps identify numerous ground features,

which can be grouped into the following categories:

Vegetation: wooded areas

 What information is on a topographic
map?

Topographic maps identify numerous ground features,

which can be grouped into the following categories:

Transportation: roads, trails, railways, bridges,

airports/airfield, seaplane anchorages
 What information is on a topographic
map?

Topographic maps identify numerous ground features,

which can be grouped into the following categories:

Culture: buildings, urban development, power

transmission line, pipelines, towers
 What information is on a topographic
map?

Topographic maps identify numerous ground features,

which can be grouped into the following categories:

Boundaries: international, provincial/territorial,

administrative, recreational, geographical
 What information is on a topographic
map?

Topographic maps identify numerous ground features,

which can be grouped into the following categories:

Toponymy: place names, water feature names,

landform names, boundary names
 TAKE NOTE

 Refer to the map legend for a complete listing of all features

and their corresponding symbols. Information along the map
borders provides valuable details to help you understand and
use a topographic map.

For example, here you will find the map scale and other
important information about the map such as the year, the
edition and information pertaining to the map data.
 QUESTION

Is a topographic map
similar to a road map?
 ANSWER

NO. They have

similarities but they are
not the same
 QUESTION

What are the similarities

between Topographic
Map and Road Map?
 ANSWER

Both types of maps show

roads, water features,
cities and parks, but that’s
where the similarity ends.
 What do the colours mean?

 A variety of
colours can be
found on a map,
each relating to
different types of
features.
 TAKE NOTE

Some Topographic Maps are

Monochrome, some are
colored, some are 3
dimensional.
 What do the colours mean?

Black shows cultural

features such as
buildings, railways and
power transmission lines.
 It is also used to show
geographical names
(toponymy), certain
symbols, geographic
coordinates and precise
elevations..
 What do the colours mean?

 Blue represents water

features, such as
lakes, rivers, falls,
rapids, swamps and
marshes.
 The names of water
bodies and water
courses are also
shown in blue
 What do the colours mean?

 Green indicates
vegetation such as
wooded areas,
orchards and
vineyards.
 What are contour lines?

 Contour lines
connect a series of
points of equal
elevation and are
used to illustrate
relief on a map.
 What are contour lines?

 . They show the

height of ground
above mean sea
level (MSL) either
in metres or feet,
and can be drawn
at any desired
interval
 What are contour lines?

 Numerous contour
lines that are close to
one another indicate
hilly or mountainous
terrain; when further
apart they indicate a
gentler slope; and
when far apart they
indicate flat terrain.
 What is a grid?

 A grid is a regular pattern

of parallel lines
intersecting at right
angles and forming
squares; it is used to
identify precise positions.
 To help you locate your
position accurately on the
surface of the Earth (or
map sheet)
 Topographic maps two kinds of
referencing systems:

 • Universal transverse
mercator (UTM)
projection
(easting/northing)
 Topographic maps two kinds of
referencing systems:

 • Geographic: degrees
and minutes
(longitude/latitude)
 Topographic maps two kinds of
referencing systems:

Geographic coordinates are

expressed in degrees,
minutes and seconds and
can be determined on
the map by using the
longitude and latitude
graticules placed along the
edges of the map.
 Topographic maps two kinds of
referencing systems:

Latitude graticules are

placed along the east and
west edges of the map
and longitude graticules
are placed along the
north and south edges of
the map.
 Topographic maps two kinds of
referencing systems:

The longitude and latitude

of your location can be
determined by projecting
your location to the map
edges and then by
reading the corresponding
latitude and longitude
values.
 ACTIVITY
(Situational)

You lost your Compass and your GPS

isnt working.You don’t have anything
to use but the MAP.
Question, How will you determine
where you are on a MAP? 10 pts
 How can I determine where I am on a
map without using a GPS?

If you do not have a GPS receiver, identify as

many features around you as you can, man-
made or natural, and locate those same
features on your map. Then orient the map,
in relation to yourself, so that its orientation
corresponds to the ground features that you
have identified.
 Topographic Terminologies

 Bearing: The horizontal angle at a given point, measured clockwise from magnetic north
or true north to a second point.
 Classified roads: Roads for which surface type, width and use are identified.
 Contour lines: Lines on a map connecting points of equal elevation above mean sea
level; using contour lines, relief features can be profiled into a three-dimensional
perspective.
 Elevation: Vertical distance from a datum (usually mean sea level) to a point or object on
the Earth’s surface.
 Horizontal datum: The positional reference or basis for the geographic location of
features on a map.
 Legend: A description, explanation table of symbols, or other information, on a map or
chart to provide a better understanding and interpretation of it.
 Magnetic north: Direction to which a compass needle points.
 Mean sea level: The average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of tide, used
as a reference surface from which elevations are measured.
 Topographic Terminologies

 National Topographic System: An orderly index system suitable for a series of maps of
different scales for the coverage of Canada.
 Projection: Geometric representation of the curved surface of the Earth on a flat sheet
of paper.
 Relief: The physical configuration of the Earth’s surface, depicted on a topographic
map by contour lines and spot heights.
 Spot elevation: A point on a map where height above mean sea level is noted, usually
by a dot and elevation value; it is shown wherever practical (road intersections,
summits, lakes, large flat areas and depressions).
 Symbols: A diagram, design, letter or abbreviations, placed on maps, that (by
convention, usage or reference to a legend) is understood to stand for or represent a
specific feature or object.
 Topography: Surface features both natural and man-made, collectively depicted on
topographic maps.
 Unclassified roads: Roads for which the surface is unidentified.
 Choose The Right Scale

 1:50,000 
 The right scale of a map very much depends on what your
purpose is. We’ll focus on topographic maps, as this is
normally where the scale is important. The most common
scale to use while hiking is 1:50,000. This means that for
every centimetre on the map, there are 50,000 centimetres
(or 500 metres) in real life.
 Maps are broken up into grids, with each box of the grid
measuring 2 centimetres. That means for every full box on
the map, it covers 1 kilometre in real life. This is useful for
quick estimation of distances at a glance.
 Choose The Right Scale

 1:25,000
 More detailed maps have a scale of 1:25,000 (1
centimetre = 250 metres in real life). These maps
are broken up into grids, with each box of the grid
measuring 4 centimeters. That means for every full
box on the map, it again covers 1 kilometre in real
life.
 These more detailed maps show features such as
trees and rocks on the ground.
Step 2 – Understand The Features Of The Map
Step 2 – Understand The Features Of The Map
 Knowing the features is important when
honing your skills of how to read a map.

Listed below are important features of a

map and an explanation about them.
Legend/Map Key

The legend gives a description and

guide of the different features and
markings on the map.
Title
The title of the map tells you
what area the map is of.
Grid References
A map is broken up into grid boxes, with
the first 2 (or 3, depending on accuracy)
digits being the x-value, and the last 2 (or
again, 3) digits being the y-value. Each grid
reference starts with the letter assigned to
the map.
A grid of squares helps the map-reader
to locate a place. The vertical lines are
called eastings. They are numbered -
the numbers increase to the east. The
horizontal lines are called northings as
the numbers increase in an northerly
direction
The North Arrow
This arrow tells you which way is
north – it always points to the
top of the map.
 QUESTION

Give four benefits you can get from

using maps in your life?
Scale
The scale will tell you what scale
your map is – whether it’s 1:25,000
or 1:50,000.
Ratio between the distance shown on
a map and the actual distances on
Earth’s surface
What Are The Essential Features Of
A Map? What Does A Map Contain.
What Are The Essential Features Of
A Map? What Does A Map Contain.

Title
Title:
 The identity of a map is one in each of its
essential features. It is the keyword that grabs
the reader’s attention. A short ‘identify’ is
probably apt if readers are acquainted with the
topic being presented. The want for an
appropriate identity, whether or not small or
long, relies upon the reader however the
identify ought to offer a solution to their “What?
Where? When?”
What Are The Essential Features Of
A Map? What Does A Map Contain.

SCALE
What Are The Essential Features Of
A Map? What Does A Map Contain.

Key/legends
 Every map is accompanied by a legend or key.
The Key is essential since it contains what each
symbol on the map stands for. Such symbols
may be drawings, letters, lines, ...

 Most map symbols are conventional signs as

they are understood by everyone around the
world; for example a lighthouse and church.
 The essential connection with the map symbols;
subordinated to the identity and direction.
However, that is nonetheless a key detail for
map reading; describing all unknown or
particular map symbols used.
 Key/legends/Symbols/conventional
signs
Symbols are an important component of a map.Symbols
are useful because:
In any map we cannot draw the actual shape of
different features such as roads, railways, bridges etc.
This is the reason why these features are shown using
various symbols.
Symbols helps us to find a place or collect information
about a place even if do not know the language of a
region.
Symbols are the universal language of a map which can
be understood by all.
What Are The Essential Features Of
A Map? What Does A Map Contain.

Projection
What Are The Essential Features Of
A Map? What Does A Map Contain.

Directions

Compass Rose
Direction is proven on a map via way of means of
the use of a compass rose. The compass rose
indicates the guidelines of the map so that map
readers can relate the guidelines to the actual
world. Sometimes a compass rose will simply
display North. If you realize which manner North
is, you may parent out East, West, and South
North arrows suggest the
orientation of the map and hold a
connection to the statistics body.
When that statistics body is rotated,
the north arrow detail rotates with
it. North arrow residences consist of
their style, length, color, and angle.
The length of the north arrow is in
points. Decimal fractions may be
entered here.
Labels are the phrases that
discover a vicinity. They
display places (streets,
rivers, and establishments)
with particular names and
also can be used to
symbolize something if
there’s the best one in every
of it, in place of making up
an image to simply
constitute one thing.
Maps provide us with a lot of
information and one must know how
to read and interpret them. Every
map is provided with certain features
that act as an aid to study the
information presented in it.
A map is a symbolic representation of
selected characteristics of a place,
usually drawn on a flat surface. Maps
present information about the world
in a simple, visual way. Some common
features of maps include scale,
symbols, and grids.
 What are the features and limitations of a map?

• Maps are two-dimensional so the disadvantage

is that world maps distort shape, size, distance,
and direction.

• The Cartographer’s bias: A map tends to reflect

the reality it wants to show.

• All maps have distortions because it is

impossible to represent a three-dimensional
object.
 QUESTION

Which element is required on all maps?