Cairo To Petra Tour » Map Of Cairo

Using a map scares some, befuddles some, and is easy for some. Don’t let one get the best of you. The more you use maps, the easier they become. Think of them as a picture taken from way up high. Names, lines, and other markings have been added to help you locate what you are looking for.

How do you figure out which way is which? Grab a map and follow along. Almost all maps have a compass marking showing true north. Usually, the sides of the map are aligned with true north towards the top and true south towards the bottom. The tops and bottoms run true east towards the right and true west towards the left. When you use a compass to orient the map to your actual field location, you must make an adjustment. Remember back to high school when that pesky teacher explained the magnetic north pole and the actual North Pole were not located at the same spot. You must make an adjustment. As an example, the Los Angeles area magnetic north is 14 degrees east of true north.

To align the compass, allow the compass to rest east of 360 degrees by 14 degrees. Turn the map so that the 360 and 180 degree marks parallel the sides of the map. When you are using a map in a vehicle, it may be easier to orient the map in the direction you are traveling. If you are traveling South, the map will be upside down. Reading it in this position is probably easier than trying to transpose right and left turns.

How do you estimate the distance from what you just passed to the next location on the map? On your map is a scale of miles. They vary, but a common one used by Atlas & Gazetteer maps is about ½ inch per mile. When traveling unknown roads, note the odometer reading at that last known location, then measure or estimate the number of miles to your next destination shown on the map. If there is no sign or marking, the odometer reading will help confirm your arrival. Remember, that roads seldom go in straight lines, so your distance will not be exact.

All this sounds complicated. Once you have tried it a few times, it becomes very easy. Give it a try.

Warren Hull is the co-founder of MapsYouNeed.com.

An Atlas & Gazetteer is a topographic map book by state with lots of additional information. They will help you find much more than just a road map.

Source: www.articletrader.com