Reading A Map

Question 0

Top margin

Answer 0

Series name, scale, sheet name, edition number, series number, sheet number

Question 1

Map instructions

Answer 1

Placed around the outer edges of the map.

Question 2

Series name

Answer 2

Usually includes a group of similar Maps at the same scale or the same sheet lines designed to cover a particular geographical area. Name given to a series is that of most prominent areas.

Question 3

Scale

Answer 3

Indicates relative value of distance on the map compared to distance on the ground. For example a map with a scale of 1:50,000 means that 1 inch on the map equals 50,000 inches on the ground for 1270 m. As ratio increases, map details decreases.

Question 4

Sheet name

Answer 4

Bold print at the center of the top and in the lower left area of the left margin. A map is generally name for the settlement contained within the area covered by the sheet, or for the largest natural feature located within the area at the time of the map was drawn.

Question 5

Edition number

Answer 5

Age of the map in relation to other additions of the same map and the agency responsible for its production

Question 6

Series number

Answer 6

A sequence reference Expressed either as a four digit number or a letter followed by a three or four digit number. Found in both the upper right margin and the lower left margin

Question 7

Sheet number

Answer 7

Used as a reference number for that map sheet. Found in the upper right margin and the lower left margin

Question 8

Lower right margin

Answer 8

Includes the declination diagram, elevation, boundaries, adjoining sheets

Question 9

Declination diagram

Answer 9

Difference between true North, great north, and magnetic north. Value shown in degrees. Used when converting magnetic azimuth shown in your lensatic a compass it out to a grid azimuth on your map. Also used to convert a grid azimuth to a magnetic asthma

Question 10

Elevation guide

Answer 10

Miniature characterization of a terrain shown. Terrain shown by bands of elevation (contours), spot elevations, and major drainage features. On most Maps the higher elevations are represented by darker color.

Question 11

Boundaries

Answer 11

Shows boundaries that occur within the map area such as county lines and state boundaries

Question 12

Adjoining sheets

Answer 12

Shows how the map connects to other Maps.

Question 13

Bottom margin

Answer 13

Includes contour interval note, legend, bar scales

Question 14

Contour interval note

Answer 14

States the vertical distance between adjacent contour lines on the map. When supplementary contours are used, interval is indicated.

Question 15

Legend

Answer 15

Illustrates and identifies the topographic symbols used to depict some of the more prominent features on the map, such as railroad tracks, buildings, and swamps.

Question 16

Bar scales

Answer 16

Used to convert map distance to ground distance. May have three or more bar scales per map. In center of the lower margin.

Question 17

Map colors

Answer 17

Standard colors on a military map include black, red/brown, blue, green, brown, red

Question 18

Black

Answer 18

Depicts cultural (man-made) features such as buildings, transportation features, surveyed spot elevations, and all labels

Question 19

Red/brown

Answer 19

Identifies cultural features, all relief features, non-surveyed spot elevations, and elevation (such as contour lines on red-light readable Maps).

Question 20

Blue

Answer 20

Water features such as lakes, swamps, wetlands, rivers, and streams.

Question 21

Green

Answer 21

Vegetation with military significant such as Woods, orchards, and Vineyards.

Question 22

Brown

Answer 22

Really features and elevation such as contours on older edition maps and cultivated land on red-light readable Maps

Question 23

Red

Answer 23

Cultural features such as populated areas, main roads, and boundaries (on older Maps)

Question 24

Elevation (contour lines)

Answer 24

Contour lines are the most common method of showing relief in elevation on a standard topographical map. Represents imaginary line on the ground above or below sea level. All points on the contour line are at the same elevation. The elevation represented by contour lines is the vertical distance above or below sea level. There are three types of contour lines used on a standard topographic map

Question 25

Index lines

Answer 25

Starting at zero elevation or mean sea level, every fifth contour line is a heavier line. These are known as index contour lines. Normally each index contour line is numbered at some point. This number is the elevation of that line

Question 26

Intermediate lines

Answer 26

Fall between the index contour lines. These lines are finer and do not have their elevations given. There are normally four intermediate contour lines between index contour lines

Question 27

Supplemental line

Answer 27

Resemble dashes. They show changes in elevation of at least one half the contour interval. These lines are normally found where there is very little change in elevation such as on fairly level terrain

Question 28

Terrain features

Answer 28

Heels, riches, saddles. In defense of operations, the higher ground is preferred.

Question 29

Hill

Answer 29

Area of high ground. Shown on map by contour lines forming concentric circles

Question 30

Ridge

Answer 30

A ridge is a sloping line of high ground. Contour lines forming a rich tend to be U-shaped or V-shaped. The closed in of the contour line points away from High ground

Question 31

Saddle

Answer 31

A saddle is a dip or low point between two areas of high ground. On a map A saddle is normally represented by an hourglass

Question 32

Ambush terrain features

Answer 32

Spur, draw, Valley

Question 34

Draw

Answer 34

A drawl is a less developed stream course then a valley. In a draw, there is essentially no level ground and, therefore, little or no maneuver room within its confines. The contour lines depicting a draw are U shaped or a V shape, pointing toward high ground

Question 35

Valley

Answer 35

A Valley is a stretched out groove in the land, usually formed by streams or rivers

Question 36

Spur

Answer 36

A spur is a short, continuous sloping line of higher ground, normally jutting out from the side of the ridge. A spur is often formed by two roughly parallel streams cutting draws down the side of the ridge. The ground will slow down in three directions and up one

Question 37

Terrain features that probably need to be avoided

Answer 37

Cut, depression, Cliff

Question 38

Cut

Answer 38

Man-made feature resulting from cutting through raised the ground, usually to form a little bit for a road or railroad track

Question 39

Depression

Answer 39

A depression is 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

Question 40

Cliff

Answer 40

A Cliff is a vertical or near vertical feature. It is an abrupt change of the land, when a slope is so steep that the contour lines make converge into one

Question 41

Water features on a topographic map are shown in blue

Answer 41

Wetlands, streams, lakes, oceans

Question 42

Basic map reading rule

Answer 42

Always read right then up. Always read right on the vertical gridlines then up on the horizontal gridlines

Question 43

Grid and squares

Answer 43

Coordinates always point to the lower left corner of the squares

Question 44

Four digit grid coordinates

Answer 44

Within 1000 m of the objective

Question 45

Six digit grid coordinates

Answer 45

Within 100 m of the objective

Question 46

Military protractor

Answer 46

Military Maps do not have 100 m squares. Protractors help us determine six digit coordinates. The correct angle will have a horizontal and vertical axis that matches the grid squares on your map.

Question 47

Eight digit grid coordinates

Answer 47

Reads within 10 m of objective