Topographic Maps

Topographic maps show cultural and natural features with a relatively high degree of accuracy and detail. Topographic maps are usually drawn at a fairly large scale (for example, 1:50,000 or 1:250,000) and have some kind of grid structure that allows the user to determine the precise geographical location of any feature. Because of their precision and scale, many applications are found for topographic maps, from planning recreational activities such as camping, hiking and fishing, to resource development and regional planning.

VPL has an extensive collection of Canadian topographical maps, in various scales. There is also partial coverage of many other countries.

Topographic Maps of British Columbia

Current coverage of B.C. includes a complete collection of maps at 1:50,000 and 1:250,000. Incomplete coverage of B.C. exists at 1:20,000 and in older series of topographic maps at scales ranging from 1:25,000 to 1:1,000,000.

Access: To find the topographic map you need, use the Gazetteer of Canada. British Columbia (Ref. 910.3 C2121g2), or NTS Index 5 (paper copy) in Horizontal Filing Cabinet Drawer H21, or the B.C. Geographical Names information system.

Locations:

1:25,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawers - for help, ask at the information desk on Level 6
1:50,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawers 5.5 - 8.2
1:100,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawer 3.1
1:125,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawer 3.1
1:250,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawers 3.4 - 3.5
1:500,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawers 2.1
1:1,000,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawers 2.2

Topographic Maps of Canada

Although coverage of Canada is not as extensive as it is for B.C., VPL also has a significant collection of topographic maps of other places in Canada. Current maps are produced at scales 1:50,000 and 1:250,000. Older editions exist in scales of 1:25,000, 1:125,000 to 1:500,000 and 1:1,000,000.

Access: To find the map you need for any of the series below, use the Gazetteer of Canada series (at the information desk), or the NTS Indexes 1-6 (paper copies) in Horizontal Filing Cabinet Drawer H21 or the Geographical Names of Canada database.

Locations:

1:25,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawers - for help, ask at the information desk on Level 6
1:50,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawers 4.1 - 8.2
1:125,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawer 3.1
1:250,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawers 3.2 - 3.5
1:500,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawer 2.1
1:1,000,000 maps in Filing Cabinet Drawer 2.2

Topographic Maps of the United States

Topographic maps of the U.S. are collected at 1:250,000 for the entire country; at two scales for Washington State, 1:24,000 and 1:62,500; and at 1:250,000 for Alaska.

Access: For any of the series listed below, use the index maps in Filing Cabinet Drawer 10.1. Indexes for the series below are in envelopes labelled:

United States - Topography: USGS, 1:250,000
United States - Topography: Washington, 1:24,000
United States - Topography: Alaska, 1:250,000

Locations:

Series of the entire U.S. at 1:250,000 is in Filing Cabinet Drawers 2.3 - 2.4
Washington state maps at scales of 1:24,000 & 1:62,500 are in Filing Cabinet Drawers 1.1 - 1.3
Alaska maps at 1:250,000 are in Filing Cabinet Drawer 2.2

Delorme State Atlases & Gazetteers
The series of Delorme state atlases and gazetteers is another excellent source of current topographic information for the U.S. Scale of this series is approximately 1:250,000 (varies from state to state).

Location: Atlas shelves, 912.7 area

Topographic Maps of Great Britain

Ordnance Survey produces topographic maps of Great Britain at various scales. VPL owns the Landranger Series, covering England, Scotland and Wales at a scale of 1:50,000.

Access: Index map is filed with the series

Location: Filing Cabinet Drawers next to the Road Map Collection.

Topographic Maps of Australia

One series covers most of Australia at 1:1,000,000 and two series cover the Australian Antarctic Territory at 1:250,000 and 1:1,000,000.

Access: To find the map you need use the index maps in Filing Cabinet Drawer 10.1 in envelopes labelled:

Australia - Topography, International Map of the World - scale 1:1,000,000
Australian Antarctic Territory - Topography, scale 1:250,000 & 1:1,000,000

Location: Filing Cabinet Drawer 2.5

Topographic Maps of New Zealand

Covers most of New Zealand (13 of 18 sheets) at a scale of 1:250,000.

Access: Index is printed on each sheet.

Location: Filing Cabinet Drawer 2.4

Topographic Maps of Africa

There are two sets of maps of Africa at a scale of 1:2,000,000

Access: To find the map you need for either of the series below, use the index map in Filing Cabinet Drawer 10.1 in an envelope labelled:

Africa - Topography, Series 2201, scale 1:2,000,000

Location: Filing Cabinet Drawer 2.5

Topographic Maps in World Series

VPL has three different series of topographic maps that cover the entire world. They are at scales of 1:500,000, 1:1,000,000 and 1:2,500,000. Coverage is incomplete in all series.

Series 1404 - World Topographic Maps - scale 1:500,000

Access: Maps are filed numerically according to an international index system. A partial index map covering Europe and Africa is in Filing Cabinet Drawer 10.1 in an envelope labelled:

World - Topography, Series 1404 - scale 1:500,000

Location: Filing Cabinet Drawer 1.4

International Map of the World - scale 1:1,000,000

Access: Maps are filed numerically according to an international index system. Index map is in Filing Cabinet Drawer 10.1 in an envelope labelled:

World - Topography - scale 1:1,000,000

Location: Filing Cabinet Drawers 1.3 - 1.4

International Map of the World - scale 1:2,500,000

Access: Maps are filed numerically according to an international index system. Index map is in Filing Cabinet Drawer 10.1 in an envelope labelled: