The 3D terrain feature enhances your map with realistic elevation data, allowing map viewers to visualize the natural landscape as it truly exists. Whether you’re showcasing mountains, valleys, coastlines, or rolling hills, this feature adds depth and immersion to your map.
You can combine 3D terrain with any map style to display a three-dimensional view of your map’s area. This feature is especially powerful when used in regions with high elevation contrast.
Note: 3D terrain can be memory and CPU intensive, particularly on desktop browsers. Most modern mobile devices are optimized for this type of rendering. We recommend enabling 3D terrain only when it enhances the experience of your map.
How to Enable 3D Terrain
- In the Map Editor, go to Settings > Basemap.
- Click on Edit Basemap.
- Toggle on the 3D Terrain option to activate the feature.
You can apply different terrain settings for your primary and secondary map styles if needed.
Key Benefits of 3D Terrain
- Immersive Experience: 3D terrain adds a realistic sense of elevation and depth, ideal for mountainous or varied landscapes.
- Better Context: Users can understand the topography of an area at a glance, improving spatial awareness and orientation.
- Visual Impact: Great for presentations, tourism maps, and storytelling that benefits from a visually engaging map.
See an example: View this map with 3D Terrain and compare it with and without the feature. Use the thumbnail in the bottom-left corner to toggle 3D Terrain on and off.
Popular Use Cases
3D terrain is especially useful for:
- Walking or hiking tour guides in mountainous or hilly regions
- City guides in areas surrounded by natural elevation like hills or ridges
- Environmental and conservation projects
- Outdoor adventure and ecotourism maps
Best Map Styles to Use with 3D Terrain
For the most realistic experience, we recommend using the Satellite map style in combination with 3D terrain. This pairing offers a highly lifelike representation of the landscape.
If you also need to display roads, paths, or other overlays clearly, consider using the Nature map style. It provides terrain context while keeping overlays legible and useful.
Tips for Best Results
- Use 3D terrain on maps where elevation adds meaningful context.
- Combine with Satellite map style for the most realistic view
- Test on both desktop and mobile to ensure the experience meets your needs.