The first 400-plus new US Topo maps for Alaska are now accessible and are the beginning of a multi-year project, ultimately leading to more than 11,000 new maps for the entire state. The goal of the Alaska Mapping Initiative is the production of a complete series of digital topographical maps at a scale of 1:25,000 to replace the 1:63,360-scale maps produced more than 50 years ago. Prior to this effort, topographical maps for much of Alaska were out of date and not produced to current standards, which rely largely on high resolution digital imagery and elevation data. The accurate data of these new maps are essential to the responsible economic and industrial development of Alaska, the preservation of human life and safety, and the advancement of scientific discovery and physical science. Updated Alaska digital map data and US Topo maps over Alaska are available for free download to the general public.

• News Release: http://on.doi.gov/14gYQpa
• Anchorage Daily News front page article: http://bit.ly/166ia6V

Discovered Via USGS National Map