Read the text on topographic maps and answer the questions below

1. Why it is so important to know how to read a map?

Reading a map is one of the most important skills required, not only to
locate places on it, but to fully understand the physical environment in
which soldiers operate.

2. What are the main features of a topographic map?

A topographic map is a representation, generally partial, of the relief of

the earth's surface at a defined scale. The use of colors at the various
levels with other symbols and auxiliary lines allows us to recognize
mountains, valleys, rivers, hillocks and other characteristics of the
terrain.

3. What are contour lines?

Contour lines (lines connecting places of equal elevation) Contour

lines make it possible to outline height, depth, and even slope: they
will be closer together or lines spaced apart to show the steepness of
the area.

4. What is their scope?

If the lines are spaced clase together, it means that there is a steeper
slope; if they are farther apart, the area has a low slope.
There are three basic rules for contour lines:
• every point along a contour line is the same height
• contour lines can never cross each other
• a contour line must close on itself

5. Apart from contour lines, what is shown on a topographic map?

Topographic maps depict in detail ground relief (landforms and

terrain), drainage (lakes and rivers), forest cover, populated areas,
transportation routes and facilities (including roads and railways), and
other manmade features.

6. What types of symbols can be found on a topographic map?

 Apart from shawing just contour lines, topographic maps also use a
lot of symbols to represent natural and man- made features found in
the environment. Individual features, such as houses, are shawn as
point symbols like a small dot or square, while a group of buildings
can be shown as a shaded area or polygon. Areas of importance or
landmarks may be represented by special symbols (a church may be
depicted as a square with a cross). Lines are used to indicate roads,
railways, and rivers. Trails are represented as thin single dashed lines.
Roads are drawn as double lines or thicker red lines, with a set of
symbols to indicate the road quality.
Buildings Solid black squares usually indicate inhabited buildings
while hollow shapes are used for uninhabited ones. Larger buildings,
such as factories, are shown by larger shapes and cities, instead of
showing individual houses, are pink-coloured.

7. ¿Are topographic maps in black and white only?

No, Colours are also used to depict areas such as forests (green) or
lakes (blue). Man-made features are shawn in black or red.