Land Navigation

Located in the lower right margin; a diagram that illustrates all adjoining sheets; consists of as many rectangles necessary to surround the sheet under consideration, identified by their sheet number

Adjoining sheets diagram

The mathematical scale of a map is the ration or fraction between the distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the surface of the earth

Bar Scales

Man-made features

Black

Water features

Blue

Relief features and elevation on older or red-light readable maps

Brown

Located in the upper and lower margins; indicates the security classification of the document

Classification

A vertical or near-vertical feature; it is an abrupt change in the land. Contour lines depicting a cliff are shown by the lines running very close together. If the lines converge into one line, this one line may stand alone or may have tick marks indicating the direction of the low ground.

Cliff definition

Located in the center of the lower margin; expressed in meters, states the vertical distance between adjacent contour lines of the map

Contour interval note

A man-made feature formed when the raised ground has been leveled for a roadway or railroad track. Cuts are shown on a map with a contour line running the extent or the cut line, and has tick marks that extend from the cut line to the roadbed

Cut definition

The angular difference between any two north base lines

Declination

Located in the lower margin; indicates the angular relationships of true north, magnetic north, and grid north; conversion formula between grid and magnetic is characterized in this diagram

Declination diagram

A low point in the ground or a sinkhole; an area of low ground surround by higher ground in all directions. Generally, only depressions that are equal to or greater than the contour lines that have tick marks pointing toward low ground

Depression Definition

A stream course that is less developed than a valley; can be considered the initial formation of a valley. The ground slopes upward in three directions and downward in one. There is essentially no level ground to provide maneuver within its confines. The contour lines depicting a draw are generally more V-shaped, with the closed end pointing toward the high ground, and the open end is depicted with lines that are relatively close to one another

Draw definition

Located in the upper right and lower left margins; numbered consecutively (highest numbered sheet is most recent), map information date is important in determining how accurately the map data might be expected to match what is encountered on the ground

Edition Number

A man-made feature formed when a low area in the ground is filled and leveled for a roadway or railroad track. Fills are shown on a map with the contour line running the extent of the fill line, and has tick marks that extend from the fill line and point toward lower ground

Fill definition

- Hill - Valley - Ridge - Saddle - Depression

Five Major Terrain Features

Explanation of technical terms or a translation of terms on maps of foreign areas where the native language is other than english

Glossary

Vegetation

Green

the north that is established by using the vertical grid lines on the map

Grid north

Located in the center of the lower margin; contains instructions for composing a grid reference

Grid reference box

An area of high ground. From a hilltop, the ground slopes down in all directions. A hill is shown on a map by contour lines forming concentric circles. The inside of the smallest closed circle is the hilltop.

Hill definition

Located in the lower left margin; illustrates and identifies the topographic symbols used to depict some of the more prominent features on the map

Legend

the direction to the north magnetic pole as indicated by the north-seeking arrow of a magnetic instrument

Magnetic north

A graphic representation of a portion of the earth's surface drawn to scale, as seen from above. It uses colors, symbols, and labels to represent features found on the ground

Map

Man-made features; used on older maps

Red

Cultural features and non-surveyed spot elevation

Red-Brown

A sloping line of high ground, with low ground in three directions and high ground in one direction. Contour lines forming a ridge tend to be U-shaped or V-shaped. The closed end of the contour line points away from the high ground

Ridge Definition

A dip or low point between two areas of high ground. There is high ground in two opposite directions and low ground in the other two directions. A saddle is shown on a map represented as an hourglass.

Saddle Definition

Located in the upper left corner of the margin; given name is generally that of a major political subdivision, or a format designed to cover a particular geographical area

Series name

Located in the upper right and lower left margins; a sequence reference expressed either as a four-digit numeral or a letter followed by a three- or four-digit numeral

Series number

Located at the top center and lower left area of the map margin; generally names for the largest settlement or the largest natural feature contained within the area

Sheet name

Located in the upper right and lower left margins, and in the center box of the adjoining sheets diagram (lower right margin); used as a reference to link specific maps to overlays, operation orders, and plans

Sheet number

A short, continuous sloping line of higher ground, normally jutting out from the side of a ridge. A spur is often formed by two roughly parallel streams cutting draws down the side of a ridge. There will be low ground in three directions and high ground in one direction. The contour lines depicting a spur are U-shaped or V-shaped, with the closed end pointing away from high ground

Spur definition

- Draw - Spur - Cliff

Three Minor Terrain Features

a line from any point on the earth's surface to the north pole

True north

- Cut - Fill

Two Supplemental Terrain Features

A stretched out groove in the land, usually formed by streams or rivers. A valley begins with high ground on three sides, and usually has a course of running water through it; water flows from higher to lower ground. If standing in a valley, three directions offer high ground, while the fourth direction offers low ground. Contour lines forming a valley are generally U-shaped, but can be V-shaped; the closed end of the contour lines always point toward high ground (upstream)

Valley Definition