What are the five colors on a topographic map?

Black. Indicates cultural (man-made) features such as buildings and roads, surveyed spot elevations, and all labels.

Red-Brown. The colors red and brown are combined to identify cultural features, all relief features, non-surveyed spot elevations, and elevation, such as contour lines on red-light readable maps.

Blue. Identifies hydrography or water features such as lakes, swamps, rivers, and drainage.

Green. Identifies vegetation with military significance, such as woods, orchards, and vineyards.

Brown. Identifies all relief features and elevation, such as contours on older edition maps, and cultivated land on red-light readable maps.

Red. Classifies cultural features, such as populated areas, main roads, and boundaries, on older maps.