Yukonbooks.com Topographic Maps Site Help Page

This page will explain how to find topographic maps on the site, whether you prefer to browse the collection or search for a specific map or maps. If you already know exactly which maps you want, you may also order maps in bulk to save time. Once you've found the maps you're after, you may purchase them directly through the site.

If you are new to topographic maps, refer to the overview section, below.

You can leave this help page open while you navigate the site, or close it through your browser whenever you wish.

Finding a Particular Map

There are two methods for finding a map depending upon how much you know about the area it covers. If you don't know much about the map that you're after, try browsing for it. If you know a feature that appears on the map, a geographical coordinate covered by the map, or the NTS number of the map, you should instead try searching for the specific map or maps.

Browsing for Maps

To begin browsing, simple click somewhere on the index map of the Yukon. From there you are taken to a representation of the 1:250,000 scale map that covers the area you clicked. You may then pan to a neighbouring map by clicking on the compass direction border that surrounds the map. You may also zoom in to an underlying 1:50,000 scale map by clicking inside of the map image itself. The name of the map that you will visit if you click is displayed on the right-hand side of the screen under the small outline of the Yukon.

If your cursor is not over the map image, the compass direction border, or the outline map, the text below the outline map will show the current map's name. To return to the Yukon index map, click "Yukon", or if you are viewing a 1:50,000 scale map, you may also zoom out to the containing 1:250,000 scale map by clicking its name.

The outline map of the Yukon will show you the approximate borders of the map that is currently displayed. You can also click anywhere on the outline to quickly move to another 1:250,000 scale map anywhere in the Territory.

Most maps will list features shown on each map in the section titled "Major Places and Features on this Map" towards the bottom of the screen. You may click on any of these features to display all of the maps that cover that particular feature. The boundaries of these maps also show up in the Yukon outline.

Searching for Maps

To search for a map by feature name, geographic coordinate, or NTS number, use the Search form that appears on the bottom of each screen's right-hand margin. Only one of the three criteria can be used at once.

You may enter just part of a feature or place name to find all features containing the entered text. You will then be asked to choose a specific feature (there may be multiple features with the same name, so use the shown geographical coordinates to find the correct one).

If you wish, you may search using just one of the two geographic coordinates (latitude or longitude) and you will be shown all maps that lie along that particular axis.

Most searches will result in a listing of more than one map, usually in both 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 scales.

Purchasing Maps

Once you have browsed or searched for the maps you required, you may simply add them to your shopping cart. If you are viewing a single map, click the "Add to Cart" button (and choose a quantity other than 1, if desired) that appears near the top of the right-hand margin. If you are viewing multiple maps in a list, check off the map or maps you want and click the "Add Selected to Cart" button at the bottom of the list.

Once you add a map or maps to your cart, you will be taken to the Shopping Cart Contents page where you will have the opportunity to adjust your order. You may change the quantity of any map, or remove a map from your cart entirely by choosing a quantity of zero. Click the "Update" button to save your changes.

When you are ready to make your purchase, click the "Checkout" button at the bottom of the shopping cart screen to begin the Yukonbooks.com checkout procedure. If you wish, you may also add items from the Yukonbooks.com site to your cart before finishing your order, but these items will not show up in the topographic maps shopping cart.

Placing a Bulk Order for Multiple Maps

If you already know the NTS number of the map or maps you wish to purchase, use the Bulk Order form to enter your order quickly. You may enter up to 15 NTS numbers at a time (return to the Bulk Order form to enter more). By default each map will added to your cart with a quantity of 1 unless you specify otherwise. If there are any errors (e.g. the NTS number is unknown, a map is not in stock or the quantity is insufficient), you will be returned to the form and be given the chance to make corrections.

Topographic Map Overview

The text and images in this section are the copyright of Natural Resources Canada and have been used with permission.

The National Topographic System (NTS) provides general-purpose topographic map coverage of Canada. These maps depict in detail ground relief (landforms and terrain), drainage (lakes and rivers), forest cover, administrative areas, populated areas, transportation routes and facilities (including roads and railways), and other man-made features.

A 1:50,000 scale topographic map is ideal for recreational activities such as cycling, canoeing, snowmobiling, fishing, camping and hiking. Accurately shown are hills, valleys, lakes, rivers, streams, rapids, portages, trails and wooded areas; major, secondary and side roads, and all man-made features such as buildings, power lines, dams and cut lines. A 1:50,000 scale map covers an area approximately 1000 square kilometres.

Maps at this scale are used by all levels of government and industry for flood control, forest fire control, real estate planning, development of natural resources, environmental issues, right-of-way, highway planning, and depiction of crop areas. In fact, maps at the 1:50,000 scale can be used for almost any conceivable requirement.

A 1:250,000 scale topographic map is considered to be a reconnaissance-type map. It covers the same area of land as sixteen 1:50,000 scale maps. This scale is popular not only as a detailed overview of a large area, but also as a detailed road map for use when travelling on back roads and side roads. A full 1:250,000 scale map shows an area approximately the size of Prince Edward Island.

Meanwhile, vast sections of Canada's northern regions are sparsely populated, if at all. Monochrome (black and white) maps have been produced for many of these areas. The 1:50,000 scale monochrome map provides the same detailed depiction of the landmass as the 1:50,000 scale polychrome (colour) map.

To help you understand what topographic maps are and how to use them, we have answered many commonly asked questions and provided some explanations of topographic terms and symbols in the TOPO 101 section of the Centre for Topographic Information Web Site.