NZHUNTER MAGAZINE How To
Technology is convenient, but as we are all aware, it can fail at the most inopportune time, and therefore knowing how to read a map and use a compass is as relevant today as it has always been.
This article is concerned with back to basics, talking about how to use a map and compass to navigate in a step by step, easy to understand, explanation of the process.
THE TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP
The topographical map is an exact replication of the ground. In New Zealand we use the NZMS 260 series maps with a scale of 1:50,000. This means 1 unit on the map represents 50,000 units on the ground, or 1cm on the map is 500 metres on the ground. The topographical map shows features that can be identified on the ground such as streams, high points, changes and vegetation types, ridges in addition to man-made features such as bridges, tracks and buildings.
There is important information on the border of the map - the map name and reference, details of the magnetic variation which you need to know when using a map and compass together, and the legend which provides a description of the symbols on a map so that they can be properly interpreted in relation to the features on the ground. Some symbols on the legend are colour coded with blue representing water and green representing vegetation.
The topographicalmake it appear three-dimensional. These include contour lines (showing height in metres above sea level) and relief shading which appears as a shadow on the southeast faces. The combination of contour lines and relief shading enable you to see a three-dimensional layout of the land. The distance between each contour line on the map is 20 metres in height.
