2.2 Content

An orienteering map is a detailed topographic map. The map must contain the features which are obvious on the ground to a competitor at running speed. It must show every feature which could influence map reading or route choice - land forms, rock features, ground surface, runnability, main land uses, hydrography, settlement and individual buildings, the path and track network, other lines of communication and features useful from the point of view of navigation.

The shape of the ground is one of the most important aspects of an orienteering map. The correct use of contours to show a three dimensional picture of the ground - shape and height difference - cannot be overemphasised.

The degree to which a feature is recognisable, the openness of the forest and runnability of the terrain should be taken into consideration at the survey stage. Boundaries between different types of ground surface provide valuable reference points for the map reader. It is important that the map shows the edges of areas of marsh, solid ground, boulder field, and the fault lines of rocky terrain.

Runnability and the openness of the terrain affect route choice and the running speed. Information on these factors must therefore be shown on the map by classifying paths and tracks, by indicating whether marshes, water features, rock faces and thick forest are passable, and by showing the feasability on the ground surface and the presence of open areas. Clearly visible vegetation boundaries should also appear since they are useful for map reading.

The map must contain the features which are obvious on the ground and which are of value from the point of view of map reading. An attempt must be made when surveying to maintain the clarity and legibility of the map, i.e. the minimum dimensions designed for normal sight must not be forgotten when choosing the degree of generalisation.

The map should contain some place names to help the competitor to orientate his map to north. Names should be written from west to east and placed to avoid obscuring important features. The style of lettering should be simple.

North lines are black 0.125-0.175 mm lines pointing to magnetic north. Their spacing on the map should be 33.33 mm which represents 500 m on the ground at the scale of 1:15 000. North lines may be broken if they obscure small features such as boulders, knolls, cliffs, stream junctions, path ends, etc. In exceptional cases blue 0.175 lines may be used. The sides of the map (paper) should be parallel to the magnetic north lines. Arrowheads may be used to show magnetic north.