-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: [MAPS-L] Patron question regarding topo maps - square vs.
rectangle
Date:   Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:22:12 -0600
From:   Robert T Wyatt <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To:       [log in to unmask]
Organization:   The University of Texas at Austin
To:     Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>






A concise answer is that minutes of latitude do not equal minutes of
longitude. The closer to the poles, the greater the difference between
the two.

Maps-L Moderator wrote:
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject:        Patron question regarding topo maps
> Date:   Thu, 6 Mar 2008 16:43:40 -0500
> From:   Mary Douglass <[log in to unmask]>
> To:     [log in to unmask]
>
> Hello folks,
> I think that some of you out there will be able to come up with a well
> thought out answer for this question before I can think of where to look!
> "Why on a 7.5 minute USGS Topo isn't the area map square? Since the map is
> 7.5 minutes X 7.5 minutes, it should be square. The map clearly is not
> square and appears rectangular. Can you help with this dilemma?"
> I've told the patron that I'm sending the question out to the "experts".
>
> Mary Douglass
> History, Travel and Maps Department at Seattle Public Library