Finding Your Way with Map and Compass
standard symbols on all U.S. Geological From Here to There: Determining
Survey (USGS) topographic maps. Direction
Woodlands, for instance, are shown in a
green tint; waterways, in blue. Buildings To determine the direction, or bearing,
may be shown on the map as black from one point to another, you need a
squares or outlines. Recent changes in an compass as well as a map. Most compass-
area may be shown by a purple overprint. es are marked with the four cardinal
A road may be printed in red or black points—north, east, south, and west—but
solid or dashed lines, depending on its some are marked additionally with the
size and surface. A list of symbols is number of degrees in a circle (360: north
available from the Earth Science is 0 or 360, east is 90, south is 180, and
Information Center (ESIC). west is 270). Both kinds are easy to use
with a little practice. The illustrations on
From Near to Far: Distance the reverse side show how to read direc-
tion on the map.
Maps are made to scale; that is, there is a
direct relationship, a ratio, between a unit One thing to remember is that a compass
of measurement on the map and the actu- does not really point to true north, except
Part of a 7.5-minute topographic map at 1:24,000 scale. al distance that same unit of measure- by coincidence in some areas. The com-
ment represents on the ground. If, for pass needle is attracted by magnetic force,
instance, 1 inch on the map represents 1 which varies in different parts of the
A topographic map tells you where things mile (which converts to 63,360 inches) on
are and how to get to them, whether world and is constantly changing. When
the ground, the map's scale is 1:63,360. you read north on a compass, you're really
you're hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, or Below is a listing of the scales at which
just interested in the world around you. reading the direction of the magnetic
some of the more popular USGS maps are north pole. A diagram in the map margin
These maps describe the shape of the compiled.
land. They define and locate natural and will show the difference (declination) at
manmade features like woodlands, water- the center of the map between compass
A convenient way of representing map north (magnetic north indicated by the
ways, important buildings, and bridges. distance is by the use of a graphic scale
They show the distance between any two MN symbol) and true north (polar north
bar. Most USGS topographic maps have indicated by the "star" symbol). This dia-
places, and they also show the direction scale bars in the map margin that repre-
from one point to another. gram also provides the declination
sent distances on the map in miles, feet, between true north and the orientation of
and kilometers. The table below shows the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
Distances and directions take a bit of fig- the corresponding area of coverage for
uring, but the topography and features of grid north (indicated by the GN symbol).
each scale and the linear distance that The declination diagram is only represen-
the land are easy to determine. The topog- each scale represents in inches and
raphy is shown by contours. These are tational, and true values of the angles of
centimeters. declination should be taken from the
imaginary lines that follow the ground
surface at a constant elevation; they are Map area
usually printed in brown, in two thick- Map Series Scale 1 inch 1 centimeter (approximate
nesses. The heavier lines are called index Name represents represents square miles)
contours, and they are usually marked
Puerto Rico 7.5-minute 1:20,000 1,667 feet 200 meters 71
with numbers that give the height in feet
7.5-minute 1:24,000 2,000 feet 240 meters 49 to 70
or meters. The contour interval, a set dif- 7.5- by 15-minute 1:25,000 2,083 250 meters 98 to 140
ference in elevation between the brown (about)
lines, varies from map to map; its value is Alaska 1:63,360 1 mile 634 meters 207 to 281
given in the margin of each map. Contour (about)
Intermediate 1:50,000 0.8 mile 500 meters County
lines that are close together represent
(about)
steep slopes. Intermediate 1:100,000 1.6 miles 1 kilometer 1,568 to 2,240
(about)
Natural and manmade features are repre- United States 1:250,000 4 miles 2.5 kilometers 4,580 to 8,669
sented by colored areas and by a set of (about)
U.S. Department of the Interior USGS Fact Sheet 035-01
U.S. Geological Survey March 2001
Magnetic declination diagram
If arrow is to the
right—subtract
If arrow is to the left—add
(1) Drawing a straight line over the map edge. (2) Reading the compass on the map. (3) Using the magnetic declination diagrams.
numbers provided rather than from the (2) Center the compass where your Information
directional lines. Because the magnetic drawn line intersects the map border,
declination is computed at the time the align the compass axis N-S or E-W with For information on these and other USGS
map is made, and because the position of the border line, and read on the compass products and services, call 1-888-ASK-
magnetic north is constantly changing, the circle the true bearing of your drawn line. USGS, use the Ask.USGS fax service,
declination factor provided on any given Be careful to get the bearing in the correct which is available 24 hours a day at 703-
map may not be current. To obtain cur- sense because a straight line will have 648-4888, or visit the general interest
rent and historical magnetic declination two values 180° apart. Remember north is publications Web site on mapping, geog-
information for any place in the United 0, east is 90, and so on. raphy, and related topics at
States, contact: mac.usgs.gov/mac/isb/pubs/pubslists/inde
(3) To use this bearing, you must com- x.html.
National Geomagnetic Information Center pensate for magnetic declination. If the
Phone: 303-273-8486 MN arrow on the map magnetic declina- For additional information, visit the
E-mail: jcaldwell@usgs.gov tion diagram is to the right of the true ask.usgs.gov Web site or the USGS home
Web site: geomag.usgs.gov north line, subtract the MN value. If the page at www.usgs.gov.
arrow is to the left of the line, add the
or value. Then, standing on your location on
the ground, set the compass so that “zero
National Geophysical Data Center degrees or North” aligns with the magnet-
Phone: 303-497-6826 ic north needle, read the magnetic bearing
E-mail: info@ngdc.noaa.gov that you have determined by this proce-
Web site: www.ngdc.noaa.gov/ or dure, and head off in the direction of this
www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/potfld/ bearing to reach your destination.
geomag.shtml
A Word of Caution
Taking a compass bearing from a map:
Compass readings are also affected by the
(1) Draw a straight line on the map pass- presence of iron and steel objects. Be sure
ing through your location and your desti- to look out for—and stay away from—
nation and extending across any one of pocket knives, belt buckles, railroad
the map borders. tracks, trucks, electrical lines, and so forth
when using a compass in the field.
