Usgs topographic maps have been published at many scales, but 1:24,000 (also referred to as a 7.5-minute quadrangle) has been the standard topographic map scale since 1947.
1:24,000 Is an Example of What Kind of Scale?
In cartography, the term “scale“ refers to the relationship between the distance on a map and the corresponding real–world distance.
The most common scale used in topographic maps is the fractional scale, in which the map is drawn at a specific fraction of the real–world distance.
For example, a map with a scale of 1:24,000 means that one unit of measurement on the map represents 24,000 of the same units in the real world.
There are a variety of other scales that are used in different types of maps. For example, a large–scale map would have a smaller fraction, such as 1:100,000, while a small–scale map would have a larger fraction, such as 1:1,000,000.
The scale can also be expressed as a ratio, such as 1:24,000, or as a verbal scale, such as “One inch equals two miles.” The choice of scale for a map is determined by its purpose.
A map that is meant to be used for navigation purposes, for example, would need to be large–scale so that the user can see the detail necessary for planning a route. A map that is meant to show a large area, such as
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