Reading a Map

The following are some map basics.  

 

Colors on the map 

 

Blue - water such as rivers, lakes, and streams.  

 

Green - vegetation

 

Black - man-made features like roads, railroad tracks, & buildings

 

Legend

 

The legend provides you with the majority of the details of the map.  Legends are typically found at the bottom of the map.  The information provided is valuable and should always be looked at prior to beginning navigating.  

 

Orientating the Map

 

While sometimes overlooked, it is vital to ensure that the map is orientated facing North.