Does the USGS have 1:50,000-scale maps, like the military uses, for the United States?
The USGS has a limited number of 1:50,000-scale maps available for the United States. These are maps that the National Geospatial Agency (NGA) has released for sale to the public.
To see which maps are available for sale (or free digital download), go to the online USGS Store:
- Click on “Maps” in the left navigation menu.
- Look for the NGA Foreign Maps button (includes domestic NGA maps).
- In the "Filter by Country" box, select USA and the appropriate state.
- Click on “+VIEW FILTERS” to toggle on additional filters.
- Under "Other Filters", use the dropdown menu in the “Map Scale” box to select 1:50,000 (it's near the top of the list).
- In the "Map Types" box, select Contours.
- Click on the green “Apply Filters” button near the top of the page. You will see a listing of all available 1:50,000-scale maps for that state
The USGS does not have a complete set of NGA 1:50,000 maps for the United States. Many (but not all) of the available maps cover areas near military facilities.
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Topographic map symbols
Interpreting the colored lines, areas, and other symbols is the first step in using topographic maps. Features are shown as points, lines, or areas, depending on their size and extent. For example, individual houses may be shown as small black squares. For larger buildings, the actual shapes are mapped. In densely built-up areas, most individual...
Map Scales
The proportion chosen for a particular map is its scale. Selecting the appropriate scale depends on the size of the sheet of paper and the accurate placement of features. Ground area, rivers, lakes, roads, distances between features, and so on must be shown proportionately smaller than they really are.
The Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Grid
Finding your way with map and compass
A topographic map tells you where things are and how to get to them, whether you're hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, or just interested in the world around you. These maps describe the shape of the land. They define and locate natural and manmade features like woodlands, waterways, important buildings, and bridges. They show the distance between...
Symbols for 1:50,000-scale 15-minute quadrangle topographic maps of the United States
No abstract available.
Image of 1:50,000 scale NGA Christmas, AZ topo map
Jpg image of the 1:50,000 scale NGA Christmas, AZ topographic map. Available through the USGS Store in paper and pdf format. Used as an example of the 1:50,000 military map scale.
1940 legacy topographic map quadrangle of the Spring Creek area
Scan of the 1940 legacy topographic map quadrangle of the Spring Creek area (Arran quad, 1:62,500 scale) from the USGS
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2015 version of Tupelo, Mississippi US Topo quadrangle with orthoimage turned off.
Updated 2015 version of Tupelo, Mississippi US Topo quadrangle with orthoimage turned off. (1:24,000 scale)