What is the main importance of a map in navigation?

The main importance of a map in navigation is to offer accurate information on distances, locations, and terrain. This functionality is crucial for anyone trying to find their way from one place to another. A well-detailed map provides essential data that aids in planning routes, estimating travel time, and understanding the lay of the land, including features such as mountains, rivers, and urban areas. By delivering this information, maps allow navigators to make informed decisions about their travel paths, whether they are walking, driving, or exploring an unfamiliar area.

This practical use of maps goes beyond simple aesthetic or artistic representations of landscapes. While the beauty of geography can be captured in some forms of maps, the primary goal of navigational maps is to serve as tools for orientation and direction. The ability to plot a course and understand spatial relationships is fundamental to successful navigation, which relies on precise and clear information about the environment.