U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 Topographic Maps
National Ocean Service, 1:100,000 Topographic-Bathymetric Maps
What are Topographic Maps?
"Topographic maps show the three-dimensional shape of the landscape by representing equal elevation with lines on a two-dimensional map; they are, in essence, a type of contour map."
Who uses topographic maps?
Hikers or outdoor enthusiasts, geoscientists, and geoscience students often use topographic maps.
How do we use topographic maps?
"Topographic maps are used to understand the shape of the land, whether a slope will fail, how glaciers are changing, and geologic history, among many other things. Geoscientists make and use them to construct geologic maps, find the best building sites, estimate where flooding will occur, and determine the best site for archeological or paleontological digs."
What does the scale of the map do?
Scale is the relation of the size of the map to the actual size of the area. For example, it helps people understand how far they must hike to get to a particular place or the distance between two points on a road.
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