Orienteering maps are designed to provide a detailed representation of the terrain and features that a person would encounter while navigating through an area. The preferred scale for orienteering maps is 1:15,000, which means that one unit on the map represents 15,000 units on the ground. This scale allows for a high level of detail to be shown, including smaller features like waist-high boulders, making it easier for orienteers to navigate accurately. A larger scale, such as 1:24,000 or 1:40,000, would not provide as much detail and may make it more difficult for orienteers to navigate effectively.