What does black indicate on a map?

On a map, the color black typically indicates cultural features, which include human-made structures and developments such as roads, buildings, and railways. This color coding is part of standard map reading conventions, where different colors are used to represent various natural and man-made elements.

Understanding this, cultural features are crucial for navigation and planning, as they provide essential context about the environment and infrastructure of an area. In contrast, other colors are designated for different categories: green generally represents vegetation, blue indicates water features, and red or other variations may denote boundaries. Thus, recognizing that black signifies cultural features enhances one's map-reading skills and contributes to effective comprehension and situational awareness in military operations.