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North American Atlas – Hydrography |
What this map layer shows:
The coastline; major
rivers, streams and canals; and major lakes and reservoirs of North America. |
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Background Information |
Sample Map
The North American Atlas is a cooperative project involving the Atlas
of Canada, which is part of Natural
Resources Canada; Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography
(Instituto
Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática – INEGI);
and the National Atlas of the United
States®.
Initial North American Atlas efforts have focused on production of
standardized geospatial data sets at 1:10,000,000 scale, such as boundaries,
water features, and transportation networks. These basic data layers
have been integrated so that their relative positions are correct.
The data are intended to provide a continental view useful for studying
issues that cross political boundaries, such as energy use, the generation
of greenhouse gases, water quality, avian migration, and biodiversity.
Wall maps and additional data layers are planned for the future.
This collection of data sets forms a base with which other North American
thematic data may be integrated. Any data outside of Canada, Mexico,
and the United States of America included in the North American Atlas
data sets is strictly to complete the context of the data.
The three national atlas programs work collaboratively to produce the
trilingual data and documentation and to make the data sets available
online. The North American
Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) provides coordination
activities, and is adopting the North American Atlas frameworks (fundamental
map layers, such as streams, roads, and boundaries) as an integral piece
of its information management strategy. The CEC is an international organization
created by Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America under the
North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). It was
established to address regional environmental concerns, help prevent
potential trade and environmental conflicts, and to promote the effective
enforcement of environmental law. The Agreement complements the environmental
provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The North American Atlas – Hydrography data set shows the coastline;
major rivers, streams, and canals; and major lakes and reservoirs in
North America. This data set was compiled by the Atlas of Canada, INEGI,
and the National Atlas of the United States®. This data
set is available for download only; it cannot be viewed in the National
Atlas Map Maker.
The North American Atlas also includes data sets showing bathymetry,
glaciers, political
boundaries, populated places, railroads, roads,
and sea ice. |
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