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Topo tip: • Know what map scale you’re using to measure distance. Refer to the scale bar at the bottom of the map. How do I measure distance on a map? Use the scale bar found at the bottom of every NRCan topographic map to determine distances . between points or along lines on the map sheet. Use the secondary division on the left of the scale
- How Contour Lines Describe Terrain
- Map Scales
- Other Useful Map Details
- Where to Get Topo Maps
Simple trail maps are useful for trip planning but NOT for navigation in the field. Topographic maps go further, giving you the power to visualize three-dimensional terrain from a flat piece of paper. The feature that makes this possible is contour lines: Contour lines indicate the steepness of terrain.Contour lines connect points that share the sa...
The map's scale tells you how detailed your map is. A 1:24000 scale, for example, means one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches of real-world terrain. If the scale ratio had a number like 1:65,000, though, that would mean that each inch on the map covered 65,000 inches of terrain. A map with that scale covers a larger area overall—but it has less ...
Look closely at the map legend.It's loaded with map-reading clues and navigational data. Start by studying what each line, symbol and color means. Generally, green indicates denser vegetation, while light or colorless areas suggest open terrain. And, as you'd expect, streams and lakes are shown in blue. The legend also lists key data like the map's...
USGS Maps
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) used to be the gold standard for topo maps. Covering the entire country, its maps consisted of rectangular areas of land called quadrangles ("quads" for short). Once available in most REI stores and other outdoor shops, preprinted USGS maps are being phased out now and replaced by an online resourcethat allows map data to be continually updated. Maps downloaded and printed from here have some major drawbacks: limited trail information and lack of in-the-field...
Maps from Specialty Companies
Several companies produce enhanced topographic maps. They highlight key features and update details regularly. These maps are more likely to be available for popular areas. (Finding a map for a lesser-known area will be more difficult.) Additional features that can make a map more valuable include: 1. Highlighted trails 2. Elevation callouts 3. Distances between trail junctions and landmarks 4. Primitive trails 5. Backcountry campsites 6. Springs 7. Highlighted boundary lines Shop paper maps
Mapping Websites
Offering similar advantages to mapping software, a rapidly growing number of websites offer you the option to customize and download maps. Some are free; others are subscription based.
The smaller the topo map scale ratio (i.e. the larger the bottom number of the ratio), the less detail the map will contain. For example, a 1:63,360 represents a larger area and therefore shows less detail than a 1:24,000 map. Orienting the map. A topographic map is oriented to true north, which is the direction of the North Pole.
Feb 10, 2021 · Topographic maps produced by NRCan conform to the National Topographic System (NTS) of Canada. They are available in two standard scales: 1:50 000 and 1:250 000. Each map in this system has a unique number, which is a combination of numbers and letters. The area covered by a given mapsheet is determined by its location in Canada.
The two commonly used map scales on a topographic map are the bar scale (or graphical scale) and the fractional scale (also known as the ratio scale). When interpreting maps, you might also find it convenient to use a scale that relates the units you use on a ruler with the units in the map region (e.g., 1 cm = 10 km). This is called a verbal ...
May 27, 2023 · 1. Use the thicker contour lines to determine the elevation. Contour lines represent paths or segments of the Earth. Topographic maps are covered in contour lines. Some contour lines are thicker, known as indexed contour lines. They have a number next to them that shows you the elevation of that path or segment. [1]
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Compass Bearings. Using a compass along with a topographic map ensures an exact direction for locating features. An approximate but quick way to orient your map is to align the compass needle (when it is pointing north) with the top of the map. Remember that north is always at the top of an NTS map. Get more information!
