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Control Descriptions and Map Symbols Explained

Control Descriptions and Map Symbols Explained (2004) (Samples further down this page)

Control Descriptions are the black on white pictograms that tell you where in the circle the control is located, and MapSymbols are the 5-color symbols used on orienteering maps.

Control Descriptions Here is a site where you can learn about control descriptions. All the symbols are listed, and you can find out about what each column is for and what

information is given on the top and bottom rows.

Official IOF document on Control Descriptions Adopted in 2004Online quiz for learning control descriptions

After you have an idea about how they work you can use the examples below to get some practice using them.

Map Symbols If you are interested in Orienteering Map Symbols (These are what make up the map. They are similar but not the same as

the control descriptions because the map is in color and the control descriptions are only black on white.)

A one page Legend of the Map SymbolsThe “International Symbols for Orienteering Maps” web versionThe IOF booklet of symbols and printing instructions etc. etc. pdf version

Tree symbols used on BOKmapsTake a close look at yourUmstead Park maps. The trees thathave been blown down in the stormsare mostly mapped. Here is a smallguide to what the different tree symbolsmean.

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Control Description Examples

The following sheet shows the Control Description in the left column, followed by the Map Symbol , and then the Englishtranslation

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You can download these sheets formatted for printing in a .pdf file

Practice Examples

The following example panes are taken directly from the IOF Control Description Booklet pub.March 2004. Here you canpractice what you have learned and compare the Map, 3d Sketch, Control Description and the English Words for manyexamples.

Map Example Sketch Control

Description Words

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Created by Joseph

2 Responses to “Control Descriptions and Map Symbols Explained”

1. Aaron Henderson, on December 22nd, 2008 at 10:42 pm Said:

I thought you might want to know.

On this page =>

http://backwoodsok.org/control-descriptions-and-map-symbols-explained

This link does not work ==>

The IOF booklet of symbols and printing instructions etc. etc. pdf version http://www.orienteering.org/publications/isom2000.pdf

Great Web Site. I really like the layout. Good Job!

Aaron

2. Joseph, on December 23rd, 2008 at 9:52 am Said:

Thanks, I found a new reference to the file.

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