Colors On A Topographic Map

Multiple ranks and merit badges involve understanding how to read a map. When it comes to a topographic map, there are multiple colors that mean different things. Below are what each color represents.

• Blue

  • Indicates aquatic features - Strems, lakes, oceans, and wetlands. Contour lines on glaciers and permanent snowfields also are blue. Aquatic landmarks such as ricers and lakes are further denoted by having their names printed in italics.

• Green

  • Indicates vegetation, usually forests. The darker the green, the denser the vegetation.

• White

  • signifies land such as meadows and boulder fields with little or no tall vegetation.

• Black

  • designates human-made structures - buildings, railroads, trails, etc. Names of geographical features are always printed in black.

• Red

  • indicates certain survey lines (township and range) and highlights primary highways and other significant constructed features.

• Purple

  • overlays show revisions to a map that are based on aerial photos but have not yet been fully verified in the field.

• Brown

  • is reserved for contour lines and elevations.