What is map scale?
Map scale is the ratio between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground.
Definition and processes
Core concept At 1:100,000, one centimeter on the map represents 100,000 centimeters or one kilometer on the ground. A graphic scale bar is often useful when an image is resized. How it is studied Straight-line map distance is not the same as the length of a winding road. Match measurement units and consider terrain and projection when interpreting distance.
Applications and caveats
Why it matters Scale guides planning, routes and comparisons. Large-scale maps cover smaller areas with more detail; small-scale maps cover wider areas with less detail. Common misunderstandings A 1:25,000 map has a larger scale than a 1:1,000,000 map because its fraction is larger. Zooming into a digital map cannot create detail absent from the source.