Symbols — icons, lines, and colored shading, as well as circles, squares, and other shapes — are important parts of a map’s language. They give the map a more detailed meaning without cluttering up the picture with too many words. They represent roads, rivers, railroads, buildings, cities, and just about any natural or man-made feature you can think of.
Symbols are either shown on the map or are compiled in a separate map symbol guide. Whether you’re using a paper or a digital map, always familiarize yourself with its symbols. The more symbols you know, the better decisions you make when you’re relying on a map for navigation.
Map symbols aren’t universal. A symbol can have different meanings on different maps. For example, the symbol for a secondary highway on a USGS topographic map is a railroad on a Swiss map.
These Web sites show what symbols for different types of maps mean:
Symbols are either shown on the map or are compiled in a separate map symbol guide. Whether you’re using a paper or a digital map, always familiarize yourself with its symbols. The more symbols you know, the better decisions you make when you’re relying on a map for navigation.
Map symbols aren’t universal. A symbol can have different meanings on different maps. For example, the symbol for a secondary highway on a USGS topographic map is a railroad on a Swiss map.
These Web sites show what symbols for different types of maps mean:
- Topographic maps http://mac.usgs.gov/mac/isb/pubs/booklets/symbols
- Aeronautical charts www.naco.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/online/aero_guide
- Marine charts http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/mcd/chart1/chart1hr.htm
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