Terrain Features
Red-Brown Lines
Color that identifies cultural features, all relief features, non-surveyed spot elevations, and elevation, such as contour lines on red-light readable maps.
2 Supplemental Terrain Features
Cut, Fill
5 Major Terrain Features
Hill, Valley, Ridge, Saddle, Depression
Brown Lines
Identifies cultivated land on red-light readable maps. On older maps it identifies relief features.
Blue Lines
Identifies hydrography or water features such as lakes, swamps, rivers, and drainage.
Green Lines
Identifies vegetation with military significance, such as woods, orchards, and vineyards.
Black Lines
Indicates cultural (man-made) features such as buildings and roads, surveyed spot elevations, and all labels.
Saddle
Major. A dip or low point between two areas of higher ground. Not necessarily the lower ground between two hilltops; it may be simply a dip or break along a level ridge crest. There is high ground in two opposite directions and lower ground in the other two directions. Normally represented as an hourglass
Depression
Major. A low point in the ground or a sinkhole. It could be described as an area of low ground surrounded by higher ground in all directions, or simply a hole in the ground.
Ridge
Major. A sloping line of high ground. A continuous set of hills.
Valley
Major. A stretched-out groove in the land, usually formed by streams or rivers. High ground on three sides, and usually has a course of running water through it.
Hill
Major. An area of high ground. Shown on a map by contour lines forming concentric circles.
Cliff
Minor "C". A vertical or near vertical feature; it is an abrupt change of the land. When a slope is so steep that the contour lines converge into one "carrying" contour of contours.
Draw
Minor "D". A less developed stream course than a valley. A place between two spurs
Spur
Minor "S". A short, continuous sloping line of higher ground, normally jutting out from the side of a ridge.
3 Minor Terrain Features
Spur, Draw, Cliff
Cut
Supplemental "C". A man-made feature resulting from cutting through raised ground, usually to form a level bed for a road or railroad track. Shown on a map when they are at least 10 feet high.
Fill
Supplemental "F". A man-made feature resulting from filling a low area, usually to form a level bed for a road or railroad track. They are shown on a map when they are at least 10 feet high.
Red Lines
Was used on older maps classifies cultural features, such as populated areas, main roads, and boundaries