How To Find A Map

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Soil Maps

World Reference Base for Soil Resources, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Find global soil maps for all types of soil. Click on a certain soil type to see its global distribution.

World Soil Resources Map Index, NRCS
Includes a variety of soil maps. Also includes some more specific maps for a few countries.

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Topographic Maps

Maps on Demand, USGS
Search for maps by zip code or city and state. Allows you to order 7.5 minute maps online for $6.00 per map plus $5.00 s/h per order.

Need a Map?, Maptech
Just type in the city and state.

How to find topographic maps, USGS
Provides helpful links for finding geologic maps.

TopoZone
Find topographic maps by place name, latitude and longitude, or UTM coordinates under the Get A Map section. Allows you to download topographic maps (including USGS maps) for free, at various scales (from 1:100,000 to 1:24,000).

MapServer
Enter place name or zip code and state at the top to view maps. Offers free online viewing of topographical, nautical and aeronautical charts plus high altitude digital ortho quads (nav photos).

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Reading Map Symbols

Topographic Map Symbols, USGS
This site has information on reading topographic maps.

USGS Geography Education Materials, USGS
A USGS site for kids and teachers. Describes map types and features, including how to interpret them.

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Reading Geologic Maps

What is a geologic map and how is it used?, Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM)
Use this sample lesson plan to understand geologic maps.

Reading Geologic Maps, About.com
Follow this tutorial on how to read and use geologic maps.

Geologic Maps, USGS
Explanation of how geologic features and rock units are shown on geologic maps.

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State Geologic Maps

State Geologic Maps, USGS
Provides descriptions and availability information for state geologic maps.

Association of American State Geologists, AASG
Obtain materials from your state geological survey.

Geologic Maps of States Online, About.com
Download state geologic maps from About.com.

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National Geologic Maps

National Geologic Map Database,, USGS
Contains information on how and where to obtain geologic maps.

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Regional and Local Geologic Maps

Bookstore of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, AAPG
Click on Browse by Series and select AAPG maps for regional tectonic maps

Map Dealers, USGS
The United States Geological Survey maintains a list of Map Dealers. Click on your state to obtain a list of retailers who sell maps

USGS Store,, USGS
This site allows you to order 7.5 minute maps online for $4 per map plus $5 s/h per order.

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General Map Resources

US Maps and Data, geodata.gov
Make maps using geospatial data and information.

General Map Information, USGS Earth Science Information Center
Includes general map information, from how to read maps to how to obtain them. Also includes links to further information regarding topographic, thematic, planetary maps, and more.

Maps of the United States, USGS
A USGS fact sheet, contains a series of depictions of the United States, along with information on how to obtain additional US maps.

Maps of the World, USGS
USGS fact sheet, contains a series of world maps, including outline maps, seismicity maps, and political maps. Also contains information for ordering more specific world maps.

National Atlas Maps, USGS
USGS site of a variety of US maps that are available online, including shaded relief maps, aquifer maps, and further information on how to order maps not available online.

This Dynamic Planet, USGS
A USGS map showing the physiographic features of the Earth, current plate movements, and locations of volcanoes, earthquakes, and impact craters

National Geographic Map Machine, National Geographic
For a wide variety of thematic maps, click on "Dynamic Maps" or "Atlas Maps". Enter a location you wish to search for, and select from any number of themes, ranging from elevation to ocean floor. (You may need to click on "Select a New Theme" or "Related Atlas Maps" to find the theme you are looking for.)

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Dynamic Planet Maps

This Dynamic Planet, USGS
Simkin, Tom, et al., 1994, This Dynamic Planet: World Map of Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Impact Craters, and Plate Tectonic, published by the US Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

U. S. Geological Survey Earthquake Maps, USGS

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Ocean Maps

Age of the Ocean Floor, NOAA
World Data Center for Marine Geology & Geophysics, Boulder.

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Weather Maps

National Weather Service Home Page, NOAA

The Datastreme Project, American Meteorological Society
Contains a variety of up-to-date weather maps. Under the "surface" subheading, you can find maps showing temperatures, pressures, isotherms, and fronts, along with other current weather data.

Weather.com, The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc.
A current weather map of the United States is found on the homepage. You can view an enlarged version by clicking on the map. To find weather maps of your local area, type in your zip code or city and state at the top of the page.

Unisys.com, Unisys Corp.
View a current United States weather map on the Unisys homepage.

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Satellite Maps

Google Maps, Google
Type the address into the search engine toolbar, at the top of the page. Wait for the mapt to come up. Click on "Satellite" in the upper right hand corner of the page. You will then receive a satellite image of your area.

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Inquiry

Ask a Geographer, American Association of Geographers
The website ffers the media, government agencies, teachers and students links to experts in various fields of geography. The experts are drawn from and categorized according to the AAG Specialty Groups and may be contacted directly, using the information provided in this listing. They will respond to specific inquiries about geographic topics and issues in their areas of expertise.

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AGIF Logo
AGI's professional development programs for teachers are supported by generous contributions from corporate contributors of the American Geosciences Institute Foundation and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation.