What are the four colors on a Military Topographical Map?

• A. Black, Reddish-Brown, Green, Blue
• B. Black, Blue, Red, Green
• C. Black, White, Green, Blue
• D. Red, Green, Blue, Brown

Answer: (A)

Colors on a Military Topographical Map are a quick guide to what you’re looking at. Black is used for man-made features and labels. Blue marks water—rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Green shows vegetation and forested areas. Reddish-brown (the color used for contour lines and relief) represents elevation and the shape of the terrain. Together these four colors let you read terrain, vegetation, water, and built features at a glance, which is essential for planning and navigation in military contexts. This is why black, reddish-brown, green, and blue form the standard four-color set for these maps. Other color schemes miss one of the core feature types, such as contour detail or water features, making the map harder to interpret quickly.