Research Guides: Maps Online: Topographic maps

Finding a topographic map

A topographic map shows physical and human features of the area shown. A topographic map may show roads, contour lines for elevation, rivers, schools, post offices, individual mountain peaks, national and state parks and forests and towns.

Almost every country has some kind of mapping agency responsible for creating topographic maps. For the United States, it is the Geological Survey. For Canada, it is Geomatics Canada within Natural Resources Canada, in Mexico, it is the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Geografia e Informatica (INEGI) and in Great Britain, it is the Ordnance Survey.

Curious about other national mapping agencies around the world? See the book below.

World mapping today by Bob Parry; Chris Perkins
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9783598115349
Publication Date: 2nd ed.
Maps and digitized map data provide information for a broad range of applications, from business and Government, to engineering and military, to research and leisure. The new edition of the highly respected World Mapping Today is an essential reference for librarians and anyone concerned with the production, acquisition, distribution or use of maps and other forms of spatial data. World Mapping Today recognizes the inherent difficulties in finding out about the availability of maps and other forms of spatial data. ...

USGS Talks About Topographic Mapping

U S Topo
The new style of topographic maps from the USGS.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

The U.S. Geological Survey is the largest supplier of topographic maps for the United States. You can buy maps directly from them or download topographic sheets. The USGS has a new digital format for its maps. It is called a GeoPDF. You can use Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these new maps. You can even download an add-on that is specific to GeoPDF's. The add-on gives you tools that allow you to measure distances, make notations and view in Google Maps.

Map Locator
The actual site for viewing and downloading topographic maps of the United States.
U S Topo
The new style of topographic maps from the USGS.
Historical Topographic Maps (USGS)
The USGS has digitized all of their series of topographic maps and put them on the Web. They are freely available for downloading and are georeferenced.
A New Generation of USGS Maps
A news release explaining the new versions of USGS topographic maps.
TerraGo
This add-on to Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to annotate the style of topographic maps from the USGS.
U.S. Geological Survey
The USGS is a multi-disciplinary science organization that focuses on biology, geography, geology, geospatial information, and water. They are dedicated to the timely, relevant, and impartial study of the landscape, natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten the world. They also map the country at various scales of detail.