Map symbols and legends

A map uses small drawings called symbols to stand for real things on the ground. On this map, a brown triangle means a mountain, a wavy blue line means a river, and a red circle with little buildings means a city. The box on the side is called the legend, and it tells you what each symbol means. Read the legend first, then look at the map and you will know what everything is.

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Examples

At the zoo or a theme park, the little pictures on the visitor map show you where the toilets, the food and the exit are.
On a walking map of a park, a blue line shows the stream and a green patch shows the trees, so you can tell water from woods.

Key takeaways

Symbols are small drawings that stand for real things like mountains, rivers and cities.
The legend is the key that tells you what each symbol means, so read it first.