Maps, Aerial Photographs & Satellite Images
 |
Map Reference Resources |
(includes Atlases and Gazetteers)
Ask USGS (Earth Science Information Center)
This new Web site, which is part of the "Ask-USGS" information delivery strategy,
replaces the previous public Earth Science Information Center (ESIC) Web pages. It provides data on the natural
sciences.
American
FactFinder
The site to visit for data from the 1990 Census and the 2000 Census. Provides both reference maps,
which show basic boundary information (cities, counties, census tracts, etc.) and thematic maps. The Thematic Map option
allows the user to select the geographic area of coverage, select from a limited number of themes, and then view the
results. Output options include printing and saving to a file.
Finding Your Way with Map and Compass
[PDF]
[HTML]
USGS Fact Sheet 03501 (March 2001)
Geographic Glossary and
Tutorials
What is a "digital orthophoto quadrangle" and how does it differ from a "digital raster graphic?"
Learn the language that geographers use for map making. On TerraserverUSA, from Encarta World Encyclopedia and the
USGS.
Map Projections (USGS)
A map projection is used to portray all or part of the round Earth on a flat surface. This
document gives the key properties, characteristics, and preferred uses of many historically important projections
and of those frequently used by mapmakers today.
Map Projection Overview (Peter H. Dana - University of Texas at Austin)
These materials were developed by Peter H. Dana, Department of Geography, University of Texas
at Austin, 1995. They may be used for study, research, and education in not-for-profit applications. If you link
to or cite these materials, please credit the author, Peter H. Dana, The Geographer's Craft Project, Department of
Geography, The University of Colorado at Boulder. These materials may not be copied to or issued from another Web
server without the author's express permission. Copyright ©1999 Peter H. Dana.
Map Scales (USGS) [HTML]
[PDF]
USGS Fact Sheet 015-02 (February 2002) To be most useful, a map must show locations and distances
accurately on a sheet of paper of convenient size. The proportion chosen for a particular map is its scale.
Photo Finder (USGS Earth Explorer)
"A quick and easy way to find and order USGS National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) photos."
Topographic Map
Symbols (USGS)
What is a topographic map? -- Reading topographic maps -- Topographic map information -- Map
symbols
TopoWeb
An index of U.S. topographic map resources. Includes sections on general information, USGS maps,
paper maps, digital maps, and other information.
The University of Texas at Austin. Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. Cartographic Reference Sources
Links to more reference sources (e.g., gazetteers, distance calculators, glossaries
and guides).
USGS National Mapping Information
Query form for the United States and its territories retrieves detailed information (if any)
about a specific place or point of interest (even libraries and parks) in the U.S. Includes: Elevation, Population,
Description, History Notes, Variant Names, and USGS 7.5' Map Names. Includes links to Census Bureau's Tiger Mapping
Service.
USGS Store
Replaces "Map Finder." Start by "entering" the USGS Store. This site is helpful
if you already know the name of the quadrangle or the USGS product number. If you don't know the map name, use the "GNIS"
search option, which links to the National Mapping Information "Query form for the United States and Its Territories"
to get the quadrangle map name. Entries for each map include a thumbnail image (if available); coordinates; and dates
of version, survey, revisions, and printing. County names are not included. You can order copies of maps online from this
site.
USGS Topographic
(from Map Link)
Map Link ("the comprehensive source for maps and geographic information") has included online
indexing of USGS topographic maps. Search by index image, place names, keyword/description, latitude/longitude,
specialty maps, and USGS file numbers. While map images are not retrieved, the following information is included:
USGS quad name, lat./long., geographic feature (e.g., summit, tower, locale, school, etc.), county, and
state.
Atlases:
Color Landform Atlas of the United States
For all 50 states, access Shaded relief maps, County maps, Black and white maps, PostScript
maps, Satellite images, and an 1895 map.
Critical
Mass: a Biodiversity Atlas of the United States and Canada
View maps of major habitats and types of species, such as amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and
butterflies. Control map views by political boundaries, total species, endemic species, and zooming in and out.
Historical Atlas of the
Twentieth Century
A thematic atlas, produced by Matthew White, Erol's Internet Service, Springfield, VA, USA.
(The author makes his living as a librarian and has used various atlases, histories, and statistical sources to
compile this online resource. Bibliography of works
used. He states the following in his FAQ to
this site: "never trust any information without double checking.") First placed online October 18, 1998.
"Always under construction." Sections include: General trends (living conditions; government; war; population,
religion); Specific places and events (Europe; America; China; Cold War; Imperialism; World Wars; Olympics); Keeping the
turn of the century in perspective; General trends (socio-economic trends; agricultural workforce; infant mortality);
Systems of government by decades and by type (monarchies; democracies; military juntas; single party states); Population;
Urban growth; Wars (30 worst atrocities; 15 bloodiest wars; complete casualty statistics of wars and tyrants); Specific
places and events; International relations; Disasters; Nobel prizes; Olympic Games; Index of wars and tyrants; and
more.
National Atlas of the United States (Graphic Mode on nationalatlas.gov )
( Text Mode )
Click the Atlas Maps link
to design and explore your own map or to view interactive multimedia maps. The map pages require the use of
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 or Netscape Navigator 4 with frames enabled. A screen resolution of at least 800 by 600
pixels is highly recommended. Multimedia maps, which require Shockwave, a web browser plug-in that can be downloaded
from the site, include such maps as: Active volcanoes, Exotic species, Vegetation growth in 1995, and Terrain relief
and elevation.
Watersheds (Environmental Protection Agency)
This site includes links to other "watershed" resources: Watershed
Information Network, Adopt Your Watershed,
Watershed Academy,
After the Storm,
Targeted Watersheds,
Mississippi River Basin,
Surf Your Watershed (including
Locate Your Watershed), and
Watersheds & TV Weather Reporting.
Welcome to the Planets
(TM) (Atlas of the Planets)
Produced by the California Institute of Technology. This is a collection of many of the best
images from NASA's planetary exploration program.
World Sites Atlas
This site includes a "Map
Collection" with detailed maps (countries, states, and provinces) and general maps (world atlas and regional
maps).
Gazetteers:
Gazetteer of Planetary
Nomenclature
Produced by the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature, International Astronomical Union.
Contains detailed information about all names of topographic and albedo features on planets and satellites (and
some planetary ring and ring-gap systems) that the International Astronomical Union has named and approved from
its founding in 1919 through its triennial meeting in 1997.
Geographic Names Information
System
Produced by the USGS, National Mapping Information. Contains information about almost 2 million
physical and cultural geographic features in the United States. The Federally recognized name of each feature described
in the database is identified, and references are made to a feature's location by State, county, and geographic
coordinates. The GNIS is our Nation's official repository of domestic geographic names information. Information about
foreign geographic feature names can be obtained from the GEONet Names Server (link below).
Geographic Names Information System.
Antarctica
Contains geographic names in Antarctica which are approved by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names
for use by the Federal Government.
GEONet Names Server
(Foreign geographic feature names)
Provides access to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's (NGA) database of foreign geographic
feature names. Coverage is worldwide, excluding the United States and Antarctica. Update on a bi-weekly schedule. The
information in this database is based in part on copyrighted source material. Copyright restrictions continue to
exist.
U.S. Gazetteer
Produced by the United States Census Bureau. Used to identify places to view with the
Tiger Map Server and obtain census data from
the 1990 Census Lookup server. You can search for
places, counties or MCDs by entering the name and state abbreviation (optional), or 5-digit zip code. [If you are
interested in 2000 Census data, please use American FactFinder.]
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Revised: January 2004, Janetta Paschal, Government Documents/Reference Librarian |