D E P A R T M E N T OF T H E A R M Y / T E C H N I C A L M A N U A L

SOVIET
TOPOGRAPHIC
MAP SYMBOLS

HEADQUARTERS, D E P A R T M E N T OF THE A R M Y
J U N E 1958
 SOVIET TOPOGRAPHIC MAP SYMBOLS

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
Page Number
Section I General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . 1
Section II Notes on Symbolization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section III Soviet Mapping Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section IV Sheet Numbering System o f Soviet Topographic Maps . . . . 2

CHAPTER 2 SYMBOLIZATION FOR MAPS AT THE SCALES O F

1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:75,000, 1:100,000

Section I Inhabited Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Section II Industrial and Agricultural Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section I l l Orientation Points and Local Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section IV Geodetic Points . . . . . .............. 17
Section V Pipelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 18
Section VI Boundaries and Barriers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Section VII Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SectionVIII Railroads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Section IX Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Section X Hydrography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section XI Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section XII Soils and Vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Section XIII Type Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

CHAPTER 3 SYMBOLIZATION FOR MAPS AT THE SCALE O F

1:10,000

Section I Populated Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Section II Physical and Cultural Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Section III Railroad Lines and Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Section IV Motor Truck Roads and Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Section V Examples o f Highway and Railroad Symbolization . . . . . . 56
Section VI Boundaries and Fences . . . . . . . ................ 57
Section VII Hydrography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section VIII Symbolization of Certain Elements o f
Section I X Vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section X Cultivated Lands, Gardens, Vineyards, Parks, and Lawns . 62
Section XI Sections of Land Under Technical Cul
Section XII Swamps, Sands, Solonchak(s), Takyr(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Section XIII Examples of Combined Symbolization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Section XIV Type Specimens ................................ 65
Section XV Graphic Method of Determining Slope Gradients . . . . . . . . 69
CHAPTER 4 SYMBOLIZATION FOR MAPS AT THE SCALE OF
1:200,000
Page Number
Section I Populated Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Section II Roads and Railroads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Section III Hydrography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Section IV Soils and Vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Section V Other Map Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

CHAPTER 5 SYMBOLIZATION FOR MAPS AT THE SCALE O F

1:500,000

Section I Populated Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Section II Hydrography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Section III Railroads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Section IV Soils and Vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Section V Other Map Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

CHAPTER 6 SYMBOLIZATION FOR MAPS AT THE SCALE OF

1:1,000,000

Section I Populated Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Section II Political and Administrative Importance of Populated
Places . . . . . . .................
Section 111 Roads and Ra ...................
Section IV Hydrography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section V Other Map Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

APPENDIX I RUSSIAN ALPHABET TRANSLITERATION

ACCORDING TO U. S. BOARD O F
GEOGRAPHIC NAMES
APPENDIX II TOPOGRAPHIC ABBREVIATIONS AND THEIR
MEANINGS
APPENDIX III TRANSLATIONS OF SELECTED MAP TERMS
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

SECTION I GENERAL
1. Purpose
T h e purpose of this manual is to provide information required by the map
user when reading modern Soviet military topographic maps.
2. Scope
This manual presents, as a convenient reference guide, symbols and abbre-
viations which appear an available Soviet maps of various scales.
3. Organization
a. Chanter 1 explains briefly the responsible authorities involved in Soviet
mapping. It also contains additional general information concerning symbols
and a detailed explanation of the Soviet map numbering system.
b. Chapter 2 is a listing of map symbols generally common to all scales
except for size, which varies from scale to scale.
c. Chapter 3 is a list of symbols found only on maps a t scale of 1:10,000.
d. Chapters 4 through 6 provide additional symbols found on 1:200,000,
1:500,000 and 1:1,000,000 scale maps.
e. AppendixI provides a transliteration of the Russian alphabet.
f. AppendixII is a list of abbreviations appearing on Soviet maps, arranged
according to the Russian alphabet. Symbols which are general in nature
(such as mine, factory and tower) are accompanied by abbreviations indi-
eating the specific use or activity of the feature.
g. Appendix III is a list of translated, selected terms primarily appearing
in the compilation credit note of Soviet maps.
SECTION II NOTES ON SYMBOLIZATION
1. In a few cases two symbols may be found representing o n efeature This is
due to a continuing evolution of mapping specifications.
2. A symbol qualified by the words “drawn to scale” means that the size is
delineated true to the scale of the map.
3. Many of the symbols presented in Chapters 4 through 6 exceed normal
map size; exact specifications are not available.
4. It is possible that symbols other than those listed herein may he discovered.

SECTION III SOVIET MAPPING RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The principal topographic map producing organization of the USSR is the
Chief Administration of Geodesy and Cartography (GUGK) under the Min-
istry of Internal Affairs (MVD). This vast organization, controlling mapping
functions throughout the USSR, is responsible for the production of all military-
topographic, economic and civil-use mapping.

1
 2. T h e Military Topographic Administration (VTU) under the General Staff
of the Ministry of Defense is also involved in Soviet mapping, operating in
close cooperation with GUGK. Ita responsibilities are flexible but apparently
its authority takes precedence during wartime.
SECTION IV SHEET NUMBERING SYSTEM OF SOVIET TOPO-
GRAPHIC MAPS
1. 1:1,000,000 Scale
The Soviet topographic 1:1,000,000 sheets follow the International Map of
the World (IMW) numbering system. Sheets are designated by a Roman
letter and Arabic number. In the Northern Hemisphere the numbering
system begins a t the Equator and the 180" meridian with sheet number A-1.
Sheet numbers progress northward and eastward in letters and numbers
respectively. The individual sheets cover 4" of latitude and 6" of longitude.
Example: Sheet M-36 is located between 48" and 52" north latitude and 30"
to 36" east longitude.
2. 1:500,000Scale
Each 1:1,000,000 sheet area is divided into four 1:500,000 sheets, each
covering 2" of latitude and 3" of longitude.

FIGURE 1. 1:500,000 scale division of 1:1,000,000 sheet M-36

Each sheet is identified by the number of the 1:1,000,000 sheet within which
it falls, followed by a Russian letter to designate each quarter: A for NW,
for NE, B for SW and for SE. Example: M-36-

2
3. 1:300,000Scale
Each 1:1,000,000 sheet area is divided into nine 1:300,000 sheets, each
covering of latitude and 2"of longitude.

VII

30' 32'
FIGURE 2. 1:300,000 scale division of 1:1,000,000 sheet M-36

Each sheet is identified by a Roman numeral that precedes the 1:1,000,000

sheet number. Example: V-M-36.

3
 4. 1:200,000 Scale
There have been several variations of the format and numbering systems
used during the history of the 1:200,000scale maps. Three of these, recently
and presently used, are described below.
a. One numbering system divides the 1:1,000,000 sheet area into 36 1:200,000
sheets, each covering 40' of latitude and 1"of longitude.

M-36

I I I I I
34' 35'
FIGURE 3. Method 1, 1:200,000scale division of 1:1,000,000 Sheet M-36.

Each sheet is identified by the number of the 1:1,000,000 sheet within which
it falls, followed by a Roman numeral. Example: M-36-XX.

4
 b. A second system divides the 1:1,000,000sheet area into 18 1:200,000
sheets, each covering 40' of latitude and 2" of longitude.

M-36

FIGURE 4. Method 2, 1:200,000 scale division of 1:1,000,000Sheet M-36.

Each sheet is identified by the number of the 1:1,000,000 sheet within which
it falls, followed by a Roman numeral. Example: M-36-X.

5
 e. Athird system divides the 1:1,000,000 sheet area into nine 1:200,000
sheets, each covering of latitude and 2' of longitude. It will be seen in
comparing diagrams that in this system each sheet contains the area of four
1:200,000 sheets shown in method No. 1. It is known as the four-bone
method.

M-36

30° 32° 6
'
FIGURE 5 . Method 3, 1:200,000 Scale division of 1:1,000,000Sheet M-36.

I n this case the 1:200,000 sheet has two identifications. A t the top-center
of a sheet will be the n a m e of the principal town of the area, folIowed by a
serial number, such as Kiev M-36-(4). T h e numeral 4 appears in parentheses
to prevent confusion with sheet designation of 1:100,000 scale maps. A second
sheet identification is found in the upper-right corner, such as, M-36-XIII,
XIV, XIX, X X which indicates the numbers of the basic 1:200,000scale m a p
involved in the single sheet. Example: Kiev M-36-(4) and M-36-XIII, XIV,
XIX, xx.

6
5. 1:100,000Scale
Each 1:1,000,000 sheet area is dividedinto 144 1:100,000 sheets, each
covering 20‘ of latitude and 30’of longitude.

30° 30°30’ 3° 31°30’ 32’ 32°30’ 33° 33°30’ 36° 36°30’ 35° 35°30’ 36°

FIGURE 6. 1:100,000 scale division of 1:1,000,000Sheet M-36.

Each sheet is identified by the number of the 1:1,000,000sheet within which it

falls, followed by an Arabic number. Example: M-36-18.

6. 1:75,000Scale
The sheet line diagram and numbering system of the 1:75,000scale maps is
not illustrated. The maps were produced by Latvia previous to Soviet domi-
nation and were designed to a format and numbering system adjusted to the
size and shape of Latvia only. The maps are 15‘ N-S x 30’E-W. Apparently
the 1:75,000 scale is no longer active but the existing maps are still in use.
The sheets are identified by an Arabic number followed by the name of the
principal town within the map limits. Example: 102-Karsava.

7
 7. 1:50,000 Scale
Each 1:100,000 sheet area is divided into four 1:50,000 sheets, each coverig
10' of latitude and 15' of longitude.

M-36-18
5

32°30’ 32°45’, 33°00’

FIGURE 7. 1:50,000 scale division of 1:100,000 sheet M-36-18.

Each sheet is identified by the sheet number of the 1:100,000 sheet within
which it falls, followed by A, B or representing the NW, NE, SW, and
SE quarters respectively. Example: M-36-18-

8. 1:25,000 Scale
Each 1:50,000 sheet area is divided into four 1:25,000 sheets, each covering
5' of latitude and 7'30" of longitude.

32°45’ 32°52’30 33°00’

FIGURE 8. 1:25,000 scale division of 1:50,000 sheet

Each sheet is identified by the number of the 1:50,000 sheet within which it
falls, followed by the Russian letter a, ,or ,representing the NW, NE,
S W and SE quarters, respectively. Example: M-36-18-

8
9. 1:10,000 Scale
Each 1:25,000 sheet area is divided into four 1:10,000sheets, each covering
2'30" of latitude and 3'45" of longitude.

M-36-18.

32°45’ 32°48’’45’’ 3252'30"

FIGURE 9. 1:10,000 scale division of 1:25,000 sheet -B.

Each sheet is identified by the number of the 1:25,000 sheet in which it f&,
followed by an Arabic number - 1, 2, 3 or 4. Example: M-36-18-

9
 CHAPTER 2

Symbolization for Maps at the Scalar of

1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:75,000, 1:100,000

SECTION I-Inhabited Places

2. Summer settlement
5. Scattered settlement

6. Built-up area with fireproof buildings predominant

7. Built-up area with non-fireproof buildings predominant

8. Partly demolished buildings

9. Demolished buildings

10. Prominent industrial building

11. Individual fireproof building

a. Drawn to scale
b. Not drawn to scale

12. Individual dwelling, fireproof

13. Individual farm or dwelling, not drawn to scale

14. Dwelling or non-dwelling in sparsely settled

area; isolated non-dwelling (barn, shed, etc.)

15. Somon (rayon center) and urto (post-relay station)

12
 1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:75,000,1:100,000

16. Location of tents

17. Ruins
a. Lyadovo (farm ruins)
b. Ruins of individual dwelling

SECTION Il-Industrial and Agricultural Features

18. Factory or mill chimney

19. Factory or mill with chimney

20. Factory or mill without chimney

21. Mine or open-pit mine

22. Operating shaft, gallery, or mine

23. Non-operating shaft, gallery or mine

24. Pit

25. Tailings pile

26. Stone quarry

27. Salt mine

28. Peat cuttings

13
 USSR

29. Oil or natural gas derrick

30. Fuel storage or natural gas tank

31. Gasoline pump or service station

32. Elevator (grain, etc.)

33. Water-powered sawmill

34. Water-powered flour mill

35. Stone windmill

36. Wooden windmill

37. Wind-driven motor

38. Apiary

39. corral

40. Power station

41. Small hydroelectric power station

42. Transformer station

43. Overhead line (low tension)

14
 1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:75,000, 1:100,000

44.Overhead line (high tension) on poles

45. Overhead line (high tension) on metal towers

SECTION Ill--Orientation Points and local Features

46. Stone church

41. Wooden church

(On 1:100,000scale maps, both stone and
wooden churches are shown with this symbol)

48. Chapel

49. Stone mosque

(On 1:100,000 scale maps, both stone and
wooden mosques are shown with this symbol)

50. Wooden mosque

51. Buddhist lamasery, temple, or pagoda

52. Buddhist roadside shrine

53. Cairn

54. Small Moslem shrine or tomb

55. Common grave

15