A legend is a box located near the edge of a map that has examples of each symbol, together with an explanation of what that symbol means. Sometimes a group of maps will have only one common legend, but these maps should always be found together. Examples of symbols used in maps. Contour Lines Contour lines are lines on a map that join all the places that have a common elevation. Contour lines define the presence of hills, valleys, streams and all the other vertical measurements of the land.
Contour intervals remain the same throughout any one map.
The contour interval can differ between maps and depends on the steepness of the area. In flat areas the contour interval may be only 10m, which means the elevational difference between one contour line and the next is 10m. In mountainous areas, the contour interval may be 50m or 100m. Topographic maps are widely used to navigate in natural areas where there are few roads or man-made features to act as landmarks. Mapmaking Most maps available for wide distribution are accurately drawn in scale and direction.