diff --git a/MapControl/Shared/MapTileLayer.cs b/MapControl/Shared/MapTileLayer.cs
index 676cb21b..69d5f917 100644
--- a/MapControl/Shared/MapTileLayer.cs
+++ b/MapControl/Shared/MapTileLayer.cs
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
-using System.Threading.Tasks;
 #if WINDOWS_UWP
 using Windows.Foundation;
 using Windows.UI.Xaml;
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ namespace MapControl
 {
     public interface ITileImageLoader
     {
-        Task LoadTilesAsync(MapTileLayer tileLayer);
+        void LoadTilesAsync(MapTileLayer tileLayer);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -93,7 +92,6 @@ namespace MapControl
             IsHitTestVisible = false;
             RenderTransform = new MatrixTransform();
             TileImageLoader = tileImageLoader;
-            Tiles = new List<Tile>();
 
             updateTimer = new DispatcherTimer { Interval = UpdateInterval };
             updateTimer.Tick += (s, e) => UpdateTileGrid();
@@ -102,9 +100,11 @@ namespace MapControl
         }
 
         public ITileImageLoader TileImageLoader { get; private set; }
-        public ICollection<Tile> Tiles { get; private set; }
+
         public TileGrid TileGrid { get; private set; }
 
+        public IReadOnlyCollection<Tile> Tiles { get; private set; } = new List<Tile>();
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Provides map tile URIs or images.
         /// </summary>
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ namespace MapControl
         {
             if (TileGrid != null)
             {
-                Tiles.Clear();
+                Tiles = new List<Tile>();
                 UpdateTiles();
             }
         }
@@ -344,9 +344,7 @@ namespace MapControl
                 var maxZoomLevel = Math.Min(TileGrid.ZoomLevel, MaxZoomLevel);
                 var minZoomLevel = MinZoomLevel;
 
-                if (minZoomLevel < maxZoomLevel &&
-                    parentMap.MapLayer != this &&
-                    parentMap.Children.Cast<UIElement>().FirstOrDefault() != this)
+                if (minZoomLevel < maxZoomLevel && parentMap.MapLayer != this)
                 {
                     minZoomLevel = maxZoomLevel; // do not load lower level tiles if this is note a "base" layer
                 }
@@ -393,7 +391,7 @@ namespace MapControl
                 Children.Add(tile.Image);
             }
 
-            var task = TileImageLoader.LoadTilesAsync(this);
+            TileImageLoader.LoadTilesAsync(this);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/MapControl/Shared/PolygonCollection.cs b/MapControl/Shared/PolygonCollection.cs
index 084433f2..3ed971f9 100644
--- a/MapControl/Shared/PolygonCollection.cs
+++ b/MapControl/Shared/PolygonCollection.cs
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ namespace MapControl
     /// </summary>
     public class PolygonCollection : ObservableCollection<IEnumerable<Location>>, IWeakEventListener
     {
+        public bool ReceiveWeakEvent(Type managerType, object sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            OnCollectionChanged(new NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs(NotifyCollectionChangedAction.Replace, sender, sender));
+            return true;
+        }
+
         protected override void InsertItem(int index, IEnumerable<Location> polygon)
         {
             var observablePolygon = polygon as INotifyCollectionChanged;
@@ -63,12 +69,5 @@ namespace MapControl
 
             base.ClearItems();
         }
-
-        bool IWeakEventListener.ReceiveWeakEvent(Type managerType, object sender, EventArgs e)
-        {
-            OnCollectionChanged(new NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs(NotifyCollectionChangedAction.Replace, sender, sender));
-
-            return true;
-        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/MapControl/Shared/TileImageLoader.cs b/MapControl/Shared/TileImageLoader.cs
index 30df2cd2..46f2c181 100644
--- a/MapControl/Shared/TileImageLoader.cs
+++ b/MapControl/Shared/TileImageLoader.cs
@@ -18,20 +18,25 @@ namespace MapControl
     public partial class TileImageLoader : ITileImageLoader
     {
         /// <summary>
-        /// Default expiration time for cached tile images. Used when no expiration time
-        /// was transmitted on download. The default value is one day.
+        /// Maximum number of parallel tile loading tasks. The default value is 4.
         /// </summary>
-        public static TimeSpan DefaultCacheExpiration { get; set; } = TimeSpan.FromDays(1);
+        public static int MaxLoadTasks { get; set; } = 4;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Minimum expiration time for cached tile images. The default value is one hour.
         /// </summary>
-        public static TimeSpan MinimumCacheExpiration { get; set; } = TimeSpan.FromHours(1);
+        public static TimeSpan MinCacheExpiration { get; set; } = TimeSpan.FromHours(1);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Maximum expiration time for cached tile images. The default value is one week.
         /// </summary>
-        public static TimeSpan MaximumCacheExpiration { get; set; } = TimeSpan.FromDays(7);
+        public static TimeSpan MaxCacheExpiration { get; set; } = TimeSpan.FromDays(7);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Default expiration time for cached tile images. Used when no expiration time
+        /// was transmitted on download. The default value is one day.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static TimeSpan DefaultCacheExpiration { get; set; } = TimeSpan.FromDays(1);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Format string for creating cache keys from the SourceName property of a TileSource,
@@ -43,7 +48,12 @@ namespace MapControl
         private readonly ConcurrentStack<Tile> pendingTiles = new ConcurrentStack<Tile>();
         private int taskCount;
 
-        public async Task LoadTilesAsync(MapTileLayer tileLayer)
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Loads all pending tiles from the Tiles collection of a MapTileLayer by running up to MaxLoadTasks parallel Tasks.
+        /// If the TileSource's SourceName is non-empty and its UriFormat starts with "http", tile images are cached in the
+        /// TileImageLoader's Cache.
+        /// </summary>
+        public void LoadTilesAsync(MapTileLayer tileLayer)
         {
             pendingTiles.Clear();
 
@@ -53,55 +63,34 @@ namespace MapControl
 
             if (tileSource != null && tiles.Any())
             {
-                if (Cache == null || string.IsNullOrEmpty(sourceName) ||
-                    tileSource.UriFormat == null || !tileSource.UriFormat.StartsWith("http"))
-                {
-                    // no caching, load tile images directly
+                pendingTiles.PushRange(tiles.Reverse().ToArray());
 
-                    foreach (var tile in tiles)
-                    {
-                        await LoadTileImageAsync(tileSource, tile);
-                    }
+                Func<Tile, Task> loadFunc;
+
+                if (Cache != null && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(sourceName) &&
+                    tileSource.UriFormat != null && tileSource.UriFormat.StartsWith("http"))
+                {
+                    loadFunc = tile => LoadCachedTileImageAsync(tile, tileSource, sourceName);
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    pendingTiles.PushRange(tiles.Reverse().ToArray());
-
-                    while (taskCount < Math.Min(pendingTiles.Count, DefaultConnectionLimit))
-                    {
-                        Interlocked.Increment(ref taskCount);
-
-                        var task = Task.Run(async () => // do not await
-                        {
-                            await LoadPendingTilesAsync(tileSource, sourceName); // run multiple times in parallel
-
-                            Interlocked.Decrement(ref taskCount);
-                        });
-                    }
+                    loadFunc = tile => LoadTileImageAsync(tile, tileSource);
                 }
-            }
-        }
 
-        private async Task LoadTileImageAsync(TileSource tileSource, Tile tile)
-        {
-            tile.Pending = false;
+                var maxTasks = Math.Min(pendingTiles.Count, MaxLoadTasks);
 
-            try
-            {
-                var imageSource = await tileSource.LoadImageAsync(tile.XIndex, tile.Y, tile.ZoomLevel);
-
-                if (imageSource != null)
+                while (taskCount < maxTasks)
                 {
-                    tile.SetImage(imageSource);
+                    Interlocked.Increment(ref taskCount);
+
+                    var task = Task.Run(() => LoadTilesAsync(loadFunc)); // do not await
                 }
-            }
-            catch (Exception ex)
-            {
-                Debug.WriteLine("TileImageLoader: {0}/{1}/{2}: {3}", tile.ZoomLevel, tile.XIndex, tile.Y, ex.Message);
+
+                //Debug.WriteLine("{0}: {1} tasks", Environment.CurrentManagedThreadId, taskCount);
             }
         }
 
-        private async Task LoadPendingTilesAsync(TileSource tileSource, string sourceName)
+        private async Task LoadTilesAsync(Func<Tile, Task> loadTileImageFunc)
         {
             Tile tile;
 
@@ -111,27 +100,35 @@ namespace MapControl
 
                 try
                 {
-                    var uri = tileSource.GetUri(tile.XIndex, tile.Y, tile.ZoomLevel);
-
-                    if (uri != null)
-                    {
-                        var extension = Path.GetExtension(uri.LocalPath);
-
-                        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(extension) || extension == ".jpeg")
-                        {
-                            extension = ".jpg";
-                        }
-
-                        var cacheKey = string.Format(CacheKeyFormat, sourceName, tile.ZoomLevel, tile.XIndex, tile.Y, extension);
-
-                        await LoadTileImageAsync(tile, uri, cacheKey);
-                    }
+                    await loadTileImageFunc(tile);
                 }
                 catch (Exception ex)
                 {
                     Debug.WriteLine("TileImageLoader: {0}/{1}/{2}: {3}", tile.ZoomLevel, tile.XIndex, tile.Y, ex.Message);
                 }
             }
+
+            Interlocked.Decrement(ref taskCount);
+            //Debug.WriteLine("{0}: {1} tasks", Environment.CurrentManagedThreadId, taskCount);
+        }
+
+        private async Task LoadCachedTileImageAsync(Tile tile, TileSource tileSource, string sourceName)
+        {
+            var uri = tileSource.GetUri(tile.XIndex, tile.Y, tile.ZoomLevel);
+
+            if (uri != null)
+            {
+                var extension = Path.GetExtension(uri.LocalPath);
+
+                if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(extension) || extension == ".jpeg")
+                {
+                    extension = ".jpg";
+                }
+
+                var cacheKey = string.Format(CacheKeyFormat, sourceName, tile.ZoomLevel, tile.XIndex, tile.Y, extension);
+
+                await LoadCachedTileImageAsync(tile, uri, cacheKey);
+            }
         }
 
         private static DateTime GetExpiration(TimeSpan? maxAge)
@@ -142,13 +139,13 @@ namespace MapControl
             {
                 expiration = maxAge.Value;
 
-                if (expiration < MinimumCacheExpiration)
+                if (expiration < MinCacheExpiration)
                 {
-                    expiration = MinimumCacheExpiration;
+                    expiration = MinCacheExpiration;
                 }
-                else if (expiration > MaximumCacheExpiration)
+                else if (expiration > MaxCacheExpiration)
                 {
-                    expiration = MaximumCacheExpiration;
+                    expiration = MaxCacheExpiration;
                 }
             }
 
diff --git a/MapControl/UWP/TileImageLoader.UWP.cs b/MapControl/UWP/TileImageLoader.UWP.cs
index bbed6327..94527f46 100644
--- a/MapControl/UWP/TileImageLoader.UWP.cs
+++ b/MapControl/UWP/TileImageLoader.UWP.cs
@@ -26,12 +26,7 @@ namespace MapControl
         /// </summary>
         public static Caching.IImageCache Cache { get; set; }
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Gets or sets the maximum number of concurrent connections. The default value is 2.
-        /// </summary>
-        public static int DefaultConnectionLimit { get; set; } = 2;
-
-        private async Task LoadTileImageAsync(Tile tile, Uri uri, string cacheKey)
+        private async Task LoadCachedTileImageAsync(Tile tile, Uri uri, string cacheKey)
         {
             var cacheItem = await Cache.GetAsync(cacheKey);
             var cacheBuffer = cacheItem?.Buffer;
@@ -46,7 +41,7 @@ namespace MapControl
 
                     if (result.Item1 != null) // tile image available
                     {
-                        await SetTileImageAsync(tile, result.Item1); // show before caching
+                        await LoadTileImageAsync(tile, result.Item1);
                         await Cache.SetAsync(cacheKey, result.Item1, GetExpiration(result.Item2));
                     }
                 }
@@ -54,21 +49,20 @@ namespace MapControl
 
             if (cacheBuffer != null)
             {
-                await SetTileImageAsync(tile, cacheBuffer);
+                await LoadTileImageAsync(tile, cacheBuffer);
             }
         }
 
-        private async Task SetTileImageAsync(Tile tile, IBuffer buffer)
+        private async Task LoadTileImageAsync(Tile tile, IBuffer buffer)
         {
             var tcs = new TaskCompletionSource<object>();
 
             using (var stream = new InMemoryRandomAccessStream())
             {
                 await stream.WriteAsync(buffer);
-                await stream.FlushAsync(); // necessary?
                 stream.Seek(0);
 
-                await tile.Image.Dispatcher.RunAsync(CoreDispatcherPriority.Normal, async () =>
+                await tile.Image.Dispatcher.RunAsync(CoreDispatcherPriority.Low, async () =>
                 {
                     try
                     {
@@ -84,5 +78,25 @@ namespace MapControl
 
             await tcs.Task;
         }
+
+        private async Task LoadTileImageAsync(Tile tile, TileSource tileSource)
+        {
+            var tcs = new TaskCompletionSource<object>();
+
+            await tile.Image.Dispatcher.RunAsync(CoreDispatcherPriority.Low, async () =>
+            {
+                try
+                {
+                    tile.SetImage(await tileSource.LoadImageAsync(tile.XIndex, tile.Y, tile.ZoomLevel));
+                    tcs.SetResult(null);
+                }
+                catch (Exception ex)
+                {
+                    tcs.SetException(ex);
+                }
+            });
+
+            await tcs.Task;
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/MapControl/WPF/MapShape.WPF.cs b/MapControl/WPF/MapShape.WPF.cs
index 4e887eec..cca7b456 100644
--- a/MapControl/WPF/MapShape.WPF.cs
+++ b/MapControl/WPF/MapShape.WPF.cs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace MapControl
             get { return Data; }
         }
 
-        bool IWeakEventListener.ReceiveWeakEvent(Type managerType, object sender, EventArgs e)
+        public bool ReceiveWeakEvent(Type managerType, object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
             UpdateData();
             return true;
diff --git a/MapControl/WPF/TileImageLoader.WPF.cs b/MapControl/WPF/TileImageLoader.WPF.cs
index bb128266..2c42aee9 100644
--- a/MapControl/WPF/TileImageLoader.WPF.cs
+++ b/MapControl/WPF/TileImageLoader.WPF.cs
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.IO;
-using System.Net;
 using System.Runtime.Caching;
 using System.Text;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using System.Windows.Media;
+using System.Windows.Threading;
 
 namespace MapControl
 {
@@ -27,12 +28,7 @@ namespace MapControl
         /// </summary>
         public static ObjectCache Cache { get; set; } = MemoryCache.Default;
 
-        private static int DefaultConnectionLimit
-        {
-            get { return ServicePointManager.DefaultConnectionLimit; }
-        }
-
-        private async Task LoadTileImageAsync(Tile tile, Uri uri, string cacheKey)
+        private async Task LoadCachedTileImageAsync(Tile tile, Uri uri, string cacheKey)
         {
             DateTime expiration;
             var cacheBuffer = GetCachedImage(cacheKey, out expiration);
@@ -49,7 +45,7 @@ namespace MapControl
                     {
                         using (var stream = result.Item1)
                         {
-                            SetTileImage(tile, stream); // show before caching
+                            LoadTileImage(tile, stream);
                             SetCachedImage(cacheKey, stream, GetExpiration(result.Item2));
                         }
                     }
@@ -60,15 +56,23 @@ namespace MapControl
             {
                 using (var stream = new MemoryStream(cacheBuffer))
                 {
-                    SetTileImage(tile, stream);
+                    LoadTileImage(tile, stream);
                 }
             }
         }
 
-        private void SetTileImage(Tile tile, Stream stream)
+        private async Task LoadTileImageAsync(Tile tile, TileSource tileSource)
         {
-            var imageSource = ImageLoader.LoadImage(stream);
+            SetTileImage(tile, await tileSource.LoadImageAsync(tile.XIndex, tile.Y, tile.ZoomLevel));
+        }
 
+        private void LoadTileImage(Tile tile, Stream stream)
+        {
+            SetTileImage(tile, ImageLoader.LoadImage(stream));
+        }
+
+        private void SetTileImage(Tile tile, ImageSource imageSource)
+        {
             tile.Image.Dispatcher.InvokeAsync(() => tile.SetImage(imageSource));
         }