Online Map Tips

Home Maps/Geography

Country/Region Maps

It is easy to locate a place or get directions using one of the major mapping sites. But to view maps showing only certain features, for example, major cities and rivers for a country, then try these sites:

Visit the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection for an extensive collection of country/territory and regional maps. The World Factbook is a rich source of geographic information with country/territory/region maps. ArcGIS Map Viewer has many different types of maps including topographic and ocean maps.

View country/region maps like browsing a world atlas:

Create/Edit/View GPX/KML Files

Finding a Bearing on a Map

OpenStreetMap Compass has a compass on a map where rotating the compass will calculate the bearing, including magnetic declination. CalTopo also has a feature to determine bearing and magnetic declination.

Finding the Elevation on a Map

GPS Visualizer
Computer: Right-click a location on the map to display the elevation. Phone/tablet: Tap and hold to display the elevation.
CalTopo
Computer: Right-click a location on the map and select Position & Elevation to display the elevation. Phone/tablet: Tap and hold and select Position & Elevation to display the elevation.
Free Map Tools Elevation Finder
Click/tap on a place to display the elevation.

Old Maps

For a large collection of old maps, visit the David Rumsey Map Collection.

Display Gridlines

To display gridlines (latitude, longitude, Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle), use Google Earth. Go to View - Show Gridlines (Web version) Grid (Google Earth Pro). For mobile app version, tap the map style layer icon on the upper right and tap Gridlines.

Magnetic Declination

To find the magnetic declination for a current location on a mobile device, use the Magnetic Declination Compass.
To find the magnetic declination of a location on a map or by searching for a place, use Magnetic-Declination.com.