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Our Newest Printed Map: National Wilderness Preservation System

Nationalatlas.gov™ is pleased to offer a map showing the National Wilderness Preservation System for the United States of America. The Wilderness Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1964, affording the highest degree of protection to some of the remaining wild public lands in the United States. The map shows all designated Wilderness areas, and the color of each area depicts which of the four Federal agencies administers the Wilderness. In addition to the map, insets on the front side show wilderness photos, a summary of the wilderness legacy, and quotes from citizens about what wilderness means to them. The back side of the map provides general information about the wilderness system in text, images, and sketches. In addition, a table lists acreage, year of establishment, and administrative information for each Wilderness. 

The map measures 42- by 46-inches and is published at a scale of 1:5,000,000. "National Wilderness Preservation System" map sells for $7.00 per sheet when ordered from the USGS. Reference stock number 101414 when ordering.  Ordering Instructions

Principal Aquifers of the United States

This National Atlas map shows the distribution of the principal aquifers that supply ground water to the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The aquifer that is shown in each geographic area is generally the uppermost principle aquifer for the area. Each principal aquifer is classified as one of five types of permeable geologic material: unconsolidated and semiconsolidated sand and gravel, sandstone, sandstone and carbonate-rock, and igneous and metamorphic-rock. The general distribution of glacial deposits that contain numerous productive aquifers in the north-central and northeastern parts of the conterminous United States is also shown. Major alluvial aquifers along main watercourses are also shown.

The map measures 42- by 30-inches and is published at a scale of 1:5,000,000. "Principal Aquifers of the United States" sells for $7.00 per sheet when ordered from the USGS. Reference stock number 101514 when ordering.  Ordering Instructions

National Wildlife Refuge System

Nationalatlas.gov™ and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are pleased to offer a map showing the National Wildlife Refuge System for the United States of America. The system is a network of habitats that benefit wildlife, provide unparalleled outdoor experiences for all Americans, and protect a healthy environment. It contains more than 540 wildlife refuges that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners restore, protect, and manage. There is at least one wildlife refuge in each of the 50 States. They offer the public opportunities for wildlife watching and photography, hunting and fishing, and education and interpretation.

The National Wildlife Refuge System map measures 28- by 32-inches and is available from the USGS for $7.00 plus shipping and handling fees. Please use stock number 113787 when ordering.  Ordering Instructions.

General Reference Map

Nationalatlas.gov™ now offers two detailed reference maps of the Nation for home, school, or office use. At 42-by-46 inches, our newest General Reference Map allowed us the space to include maps that show all 50 States at a common scale (1:5,000,000). Click on the map to the right to see what we mean. You can appreciate Alaska's tremendous size and expanse with this map. We've also included geographic information about America's rivers, lakes, coastline, and islands; its high and low elevations; and each State's area and population. Click here to see our other great General Reference map that's ideal for laminating or framing.

Our new General Reference Map of the United States is now available from the USGS for $7.00 plus shipping and handling fees. Please use stock number 112764 when ordering. Ordering Instructions.

Shaded Relief

For a larger image of this new and unique map click here.

The map measures 42.5- by 37.5-inches, is published at the scale of 1:10,000,000, and covers all of North America. The Shaded Relief map is now available from the USGS for $7.00 plus shipping and handling fees. Reference stock number 112733 when ordering. Ordering Instructions

Presidential Elections  1789-2000

General Reference Map of America

Need a detailed reference map of the Nation for home, school, or office? If so, then this bright new National Atlas map is for you. We have printed an attractive map that faithfully portrays America's:

• International and state boundaries
• Cities - large and small
• State capitals
• Highways
• Railroads and ferries
• Rivers and lakes
• Oceans and bays
• Natural features
• Forests
• Mountain elevations
• Terrain

This full-color map of the United States measures 42- by 30-inches, is published at a scale of 1:5,000,000 and is ideal for framing or laminating. This General Reference map is available from the USGS at a cost of $7.00 per sheet. Reference stock number 101517 when ordering. Ordering instructions.

Click here to see our other great General Reference map that includes maps showing all 50 States at a common scale.

Forest Cover Types

An attractive new map of Forest Cover Types is now available. It was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. The Forest Service identified the extent of nearly two dozen major forest cover types using satellite images. This forest information was overlaid on a shaded relief map of the United States. Like earlier maps, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are shown on inset maps. Unlike previous editions, all States and Territories are prepared at the same scale, so their placements on this map are quite different than on any other National Atlas map.

For a larger image of this new and unique map click here.

The map measures 32- by 28-inches. The Forest Cover Types map is now available. Reference stock number 100615 when ordering. Ordering instructions.

Hydrologic Units

A new "Hydrologic Units" map has been published as part of The National Atlas of the United States of America. This new map depicts a hydrologic system that divides and subdivides the United States into successively smaller river basin units. These subdivisions, or hydrologic units, are used for collection and organization of hydrologic data. The hydrologic units outlined on this map represent natural and manmade stream-drainage areas. The boundaries and associated hydrologic unit codes were modified from the State Hydrologic Unit Maps (1:500,000-scale) prepared by the USGS in cooperation with the U.S. Water Resources Council. Descriptions, names, and drainage areas of hydrologic units were published in the USGS Water Supply Paper 2294, "Hydrologic Unit Maps".

The map measures 41- by 58-inches and is published at the scale of 1:3,500,000. "Hydrologic Units" is available from USGS at a cost of $7.00 per sheet. Reference stock number 101515 when ordering. Ordering Instructions.

The "Hydrologic Units" atlas map supersedes both the "Hydrologic Unit Map of the United States, East" (GHU0057-1T) and the "Hydrologic Unit Map of the United States, West" (GHU0057-2T).

Federal and Indian Lands

This new National Atlas map replaces the 1968 Federal Lands National Atlas separate sales sheet. The map is color-coded to represent the lands of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Defense, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, National Park Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, Agricultural Research Service, Department of Energy, and Department of Transportation in the United States and Puerto Rico. Land information updates were compiled from National Atlas 1:2,000,000-scale digital data and updated information collected as part the 1998 "Outdoors America" map production process. Because of scale constraints, land units smaller than township size (about 23,000 acres) generally are omitted.

The map measures 19.5- by 29-inches and is published at the scale of 1:7,500,000. "Federal and Indian Lands" is available from USGS at a cost of $7.00 per sheet. Reference stock number 100854 when ordering. Ordering Instructions.

1970 Edition of
The National Atlas of the United States of America^®
Available Online

The best collection of 20th Century maps of our Nation is now online! The Library of Congress has digitized and republished all maps from the 1970 National Atlas of the United States^®.  The entire collection of high-quality, full-color atlas maps can now be viewed within your favorite Web browser. Follow this link to more than 700 National Atlas maps.

The Library of Congress is one of more than 20 Federal organizations working to deliver the National Atlas. Its Geography and Map Division holds more than 4.5 million items, of which Map Collections represents only a small fraction; those that have been converted to digital form. The focus of Map Collections is Americana and Cartographic Treasures of the Library of Congress.

American Memory is the online resource compiled by the Library of Congress National Digital Library Program. With the participation of other libraries and archives, the program provides a gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. More than five million historical items are currently available online.

The National Atlas of the United States of America^® published by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1970 is out of print. However, many maps from the 1970 edition can be purchased separately. Information on reprinted maps is provided below.

Maps Reprinted from
The National Atlas of the United States of America^TM
of 1970

[Thematic Maps | Reference Maps | Ordering]

The National Atlas of the United States of America^TM, published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1970, is out of print, but many of its maps can be purchased separately. Maps that span facing pages in the atlas are printed on one sheet. Maps dated after 1970 are either revisions of original Atlas maps or new maps published in the original National Atlas format.

Thematic Maps

The standard thematic map scale is 1:7,500,000, but may vary from 1:17,000,000 to 1:34,000,000 when there is more than one map to a sheet. Unless otherwise noted, the sheet size is 19 by 28 inches and includes data for the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.

United States Shaded Relief (1969) -- Illustrates the landforms of the conterminous United States, with insets of Alaska and Hawaii. Stock number 100655 (view this map in a new window)

Alaska Shaded Relief (1969) -- Includes text on landforms, geology, and other features of the United States. Stock number 100656 (view part of this map in a new window)

Physiography and Physiographic Divisions (1968) -- Four maps of the conterminous United States showing physiographic regions and provinces, physical divisions, and a physiographic diagram; and one map with insets of Alaska and Hawaii showing topographic relief. Stock number 100657

Land-Surface Form (1968) -- Map of Alaska, with text on classes of United States land-surface form and map showing physical subdivisions. Stock number 100660

Classes of Land-Surface Form (1964) -- Land-surface forms of the conterminous United States, with an inset of Hawaii. Stock number 100661 (view this map in a new window)

Tectonic Features (1967) -- Tectonic features of the conterminous United States, with an inset of Hawaii. Stock number 100664 (view this map in a new window)

Tectonic Features (1968) -- Alaska map with text on U.S. tectonic maps and features. Stock number 100664 (view part of this map in a new window)

Geology (1966) -- Distribution of sedimentary, volcanic, and intrusive rock types. Stock number 100666 (view this map in a new window)

Surficial Geology (1979) -- Distribution of transported, untransported, and miscellaneous deposits for the conterminous United States, with text on the reverse side. Stock number 100832

Potential Natural Vegetation (1985) -- Distribution of eastern and western forest and western shrub and grassland types. Text on the reverse side. Stock number 100672 (view original map in a new window)

Monthly Sunshine (1965) -- One map of theoretical maximum and mean actual hours of yearly sunshine for selected locations. Twelve maps of mean actual hours of sunshine by month. Stock number 100673 (view these maps in a new window)

Annual Sunshine, Evaporation, and Solar Radiation (1969) -- Three maps of mean annual sunshine, annual pan evaporation, and May-October evaporation. Five maps of annual solar radiation and mean solar radiation for January, April, July, and October.  Stock number 100702

Monthly Average Temperature (1965) -- One map of yearly mean daily high, mean, and low temperature for selected locations. Twelve maps of mean temperature by month. Stock number 100791 (view these maps in a new window)

Monthly Minimum Temperature (1965) -- One map of yearly mean, mean daily low, and record daily low temperature for selected locations. Twelve maps of mean minimum temperature by month. Stock number 100792 (view these maps in a new window)

Monthly Maximum Temperature (1965) -- One map of yearly mean, mean daily high, and record daily high temperature for selected locations. Twelve maps of mean maximum temperature by month. Stock number 101413 (view these maps in a new window)

Major Forest Types (1987) -- Distribution of forest types and nonforest lands in the conterminous United States, with insets of Alaska and Hawaii. Stock number 100615 (view original map in a new window) (view the latest map in a new window)

Federal Lands (1968) -- Principal U.S. lands administered or held in trust by Federal agencies as of January 1, 1968. Areas less than 25,000 acres are generally not shown. SPA#100854 (view this map in a new window)

Networks of Ecological Research Areas (1983) -- Location of research areas designated by public and private agencies as secure sites for basic and applied studies of natural processes. Classification and description of sites on the reverse side. Stock number 100848

Principal Federal Lands Where Exploration and Development of Mineral Resources are Restricted (1981) -- Areas of 5,000 acres or more where mineral development is formally prohibited, or severely, moderately, or slightly restricted. Text and maps of Alaska and Hawaii on the reverse side. Stock number 100616

Population Distribution, Urban and Rural (1960) -- Cities of more than 50,000 are shown by proportional circles, smaller cities and rural areas are shown by dots. Stock number 100639 (view this map in a new window)

Population Distribution, Urban and Rural (1970) -- Cities of more than 50,000 are shown by proportional circles, smaller cities and rural areas are shown by dots. Stock number 100701

Population (1970) -- Four maps showing population trends 1940-70, population density 1970, percent change in population 1960-70, and percent urban 1970. Stock number 100795

Surface Water (1965) -- Four maps of the conterminous United States showing normal monthly runoff, maximum and minimum annual runoff, and coefficient of variation, with text. Stock number 100793 (view this map in a new window)

Surface Water (1988) -- Five maps and a series of graphs illustrating annual and monthly runoff, runoff of large rivers, and surface water availability. Supplement to Surface Water (1965). Stock number 101499

Early Indian Tribes, Culture Areas, and Linguistic Stocks (1967) -- Distribution of early Indian tribes, with brief text on the reverse side. Stock number 101013 (view this map in a new window)

Congressional Districts for the 100th Congress (1987) -- District Boundaries and numbers for members of the House of Representatives, shown with county boundaries. Stock number 100641

Territorial Growth (1986) -- Thirteen maps showing the territory of the United States at various years between 1775 and 1920. One map showing the United States and its outlying areas as of March 1, 1986. Stock number 100794

Engineering Aspects of Karst (1984) -- Distribution of karst features and other features similar to karst. Text on the reverse side. Stock number 101408

Soils (1985) -- Principal kinds of soils (orders, suborders, and great groups), with expanded definitions of classification on the reverse side. Stock number 100669

National Wilderness Preservation System (1987) -- Location of congressionally designated wilderness areas with administering agencies indicated. All maps are at 1:5,000,000 scale. Sheet size is 42 by 28 inches. Stock number 101414

Counties (1987) -- Names and boundaries of counties and county equivalents shown with State names and boundaries. Stock number 101463

Presidential Elections (1789-1968 and 1972-84) -- Results of the 1789-1968 elections by State, and of the 1972-84 elections by county, plus United States totals. Stock number 101464

Highways (1987) -- The complete interstate system with route markers and other selected major highways is shown. Stock number 101467

Coastal Erosion and Accretion (1985) -- Indicates annual shoreline change by bands of color adjacent to the coast. Text and illustrations on the reverse side. Stock number 101481

Coastal Hazards (1985) -- Illustrates eight coastal and onshore hazard factors and the resulting overall hazard assessment by bands of color adjacent to the coast. Text and illustrations on the reverse side. Stock number 101485

Presidential Election of 1988 (1989) -- Results of the 1988 election by county, plus United States totals for popular electoral votes. Stock number 101486

U.S. Satellite View (1990) -- A mosaic of 16 advanced very high resolution radiometer images taken from 1984 to 1986 and covering the conterminous United States, with explanatory captions on a mosaic duplication on the reverse side. Stock number 101495

National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (2000) -- Locates designated wild and scenic rivers. An information table and photographs are on the reverse side. Maps on both sides are at 1:5,000,000 scale. Sheet size is 42 by 28 inches. Stock number 101500

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Reference Maps

These 1:2,000,000-scale (approximately 1 inch to 31.5 miles) sectional maps portray international and State boundaries and names, railroads, and locations and names of cities in black; larger cities and boundary highlights in yellow; county boundaries and names in gray; airfields, highways, and roads in red; water features in blue; and major physical features in brown. National Parks, monuments, forests, wildlife refuges, and Indian reservations are differentiated by tints. State capitals and county seats are also identified. Contours are not shown. Maps are printed on one side of the 19- by 28-inch sheet.

These maps have been designed so that each State is shown in its entirety on at least one sheet, with the exceptions of Alaska, California, Montana, and Texas. The complete set of sheets for the conterminous United States may be trimmed of overlap areas and mosaicked to form an approximately 92- by 57-inch composite map.

Northeastern States (1972) -- Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island. Stock number 100659

Middle Atlantic States (1972) -- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio. Stock number 100668

Southeastern States (1972) -- North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia. Stock number 100618

Florida (1972) Stock number 100621

Southern Mississippi Valley States (1972) -- Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee. SAP100624

Central Mississippi Valley States (1972) -- Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky. SAP100627

Northern Great Lakes States (1972) -- Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota. Stock number 100630

Northern Plains States (1972) -- North Dakota, South Dakota, Eastern Montana, Wyoming. Stock number 100635

Central Plains States (1973) -- Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas. Stock number 100636

Southern Plains States (1973) -- Oklahoma, northern Texas. Stock number 100637

Southern Texas (1973) Stock number 100638

Arizona and New Mexico (1973) Stock number 100642

Southern California (1973) Stock number 100644

Central Pacific States (1972) -- Nevada, northern California, Utah. Stock number 100645

Northwestern States (1973) -- Idaho, western Montana, Oregon, Washington. Stock number 100646

Hawaiian Islands (1972) Stock number 100647

Southeastern Alaska (1972) Stock number 100648

Central Alaska (1973) Stock number 100649

Northern Alaska (1973) Stock number 100651

Southwestern Alaska (1973) Stock number 100652

Aleutian Islands (1973) Stock number 100653

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Ordering

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