How To Read Garmin Topographic Maps

Topographic maps are used to display a geographic graticule and a coordinate grid. The term topography means an arrangement of the natural and artificial physical elements of a geographic area. Therefore, a multidimensional geographical representation of a region is called a topographic map. The cultural imaging encapsulates the three dimensional images of roads, buildings, railways, airports, new names of places, urban development, geographic features, national and international borders and several reserves.

Reading Garmin Topographic Maps

Garmin Topo Maps makes use of color lines, which are helpful in indicating elevation variation in the surface. To identify a contour line representation, on must have strong visualization skills. In fact, map, symbols are used on a Garmin Topographic map to indicate elevated or non-elevated regions and objects. Contour lines are representative of elevation. These lines are generally in brown color. Some are regular thin brown lines, while others are relatively thicker. Numbers written in brown alongside contour lines indicate elevation.

Green colored areas on the map signify forest capped areas. Roads and trails or other human-made features on the map are shown in red or black. Roads are indicated with a double line or thick red lines. A range of codes is used to indicate road quality. The natural color blue is used to indicate water bodies, streams, rivers, and lakes. Occupied buildings are shown in black in shape of solid squares, whereas, a hollow square with a black outlined usually indicates that the building is inhabited.

In case you are buying a map make sure you know how to read it. Purchase additional accessories as well, for instance USB Cable, Garmin GPS systems, handheld GPS devices, and accessories.