What Do the Black Dots and Dashes Mean on a Map?

Depending on the type of map, dots and dashes could mean a wide variety of things. Dots often represent cities or towns, but in a topographical map, they could represent peaks or other features. Similarly, dotted lines often represent geographical boundaries, but could also indicate the presence of footpaths or trails. The legend of a map identifies every symbol found on the map and helps users understand what they mean.