A method for displaying visual information in a navigation system comprising: a) identifying a geographic region for display in a map; b) identifying a first plurality of map features that are located in the identified geographic region from a database storing a plurality of map features in association with predetermined priority levels for each map feature in the plurality of map features; c) identifying a portion of the first plurality of map features with associated priority levels that are below a first predetermined threshold; d1) modifying graphics data associated with each map feature in the identified portion of the first plurality of map features to generate graphics data with a reduced level of detail for each map feature in the identified portion of the first plurality of map features; d2) wherein the modifying of graphics data comprises modifying the graphics data associated with at least one map feature in the identified portion of the first plurality of map features to convert the visual depiction of the at least one map feature from a three-dimensional visual representation to a two-dimensional graphic; e) generating a first display of the map for the geographic region with a display device, the first display of the map including a visual depiction for the first plurality of map features with the first display being generated using the two-dimensional graphic for said at least one map feature in the identified portion of the first plurality of map features; the method being characterized by: f) adjusting, with an input device operated by an operator, the first predetermined threshold, and when the first predetermined threshold changes, generating an updated view of the same identified geographic region with modifications made to the depiction of the map features. a) identifying a geographic region for display in a map; b) identifying a first plurality of map features that are located in the identified geographic region from a database storing a plurality of map features in association with predetermined priority levels for each map feature in the plurality of map features; c) identifying a portion of the first plurality of map features with associated priority levels that are below a first predetermined threshold; d1) modifying graphics data associated with each map feature in the identified portion of the first plurality of map features to generate graphics data with a reduced level of detail for each map feature in the identified portion of the first plurality of map features; d2) wherein the modifying of graphics data comprises modifying the graphics data associated with at least one map feature in the identified portion of the first plurality of map features to convert the visual depiction of the at least one map feature from a three-dimensional visual representation to a two-dimensional graphic; e) generating a first display of the map for the geographic region with a display device, the first display of the map including a visual depiction for the first plurality of map features with the first display being generated using the two-dimensional graphic for said at least one map feature in the identified portion of the first plurality of map features;