I’ve always had this long fascination with topographic
maps. It started way back when I was in secondary school. No, not during
geography lessons but during my time spent in the National Cadet Corps. It was
an exciting learning experience and we were taught how to read maps in
preparation for field exercises.
For a layman, looking at a topo map the first time would
be like looking at a big mess on the sheet. What to look at? What’s all those
numbers and lines and cute pictures? It’s really messy right?
The beauty of a topo map is in its details. And the key
to crack its secrets lay in its ’legend’.
I was enthralled at how, with just a
compass, ruler and string, you can navigate and move through terrain that you
have never been to before. And yet know precisely where you are, where you
should be or where you should be heading next.
A good topo map gives you
details right down to the path to trek, the type of trees you would encounter
and even if you should be climbing up or going down a slope.
I remember those years in the NCC stood me so well that
during my time in National Service, my mates had always wanted me in their
group during topo exercises as I was noted for being able to read maps!
Here’s a map of the region around Princess Elizabeth
Estate.
Unnamed hills are simply marked with the height
of their peaks.
You can even see the plateau that was beside the estate which I
had blog about earlier (marked .170 on
the map).
Click on the map to enlarge it for a detailed view and enjoy
looking out for the details.
Can you see where you can find rubber trees,
coconut trees or even lallang patches?
It’s all marked there.
I am always amazed at how the map surveyors can manage to
include details like every kampong house, temple and mosque in the right
places. Anyway, with the build up today in Singapore, I guess there’s no longer
a need for topo maps. And of course there’s GPS now.
Here's the key to read and better enjoy looking at the above map.
Wow, where did you get such a nice topo map?
ReplyDeleteNo sure if you can buy them these days, but in the "old days" you can buy these topo maps from bookshops like MPH. I have 2 or 3 from the 1970s. The real gem I think is the one that used to hang on the staircase of the old National Library Building at Stamford Road. That's on the first landing leading up the the Reference Section. Each time I go up the stairs, I will stop and look at it, to understand what was it like then. Recall that map was from the 1960s.
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