scale (map)

Scale 1:24000 1 inch = 2000 feet Area Shown: 1 square mile (Source: U.S.G.S. Topographic Maps, 1969)

Scale 1:250,000 1 inch = nearly 4 miles Area Shown: 107 square miles (Source: U.S.G.S. Topographic Maps, 1969)

Comparison of large scale map (left) with a small scale map (right)

Map scale describes the relationship between distance on a map and real-world distance. Map scale determines how much detail is depicted on a map. Large scale maps (eg. 1:2400) show smaller area with more detail than a small scale map (1:250000) that shows a larger area with less deatail.