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North American Atlas – Roads |
What this map layer shows:
North American roads
connecting major population centers, selected frontier roads, and major
ferry routes. |
![opens the Natural Resources Canada home page](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090814083508im_/http://nationalatlas.gov/images/LOGOS/MLD/logo_ca.gif) ![opens the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation home page](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090814083508im_/http://nationalatlas.gov/images/LOGOS/MLD/logo_cec.gif) ![opens Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography home page](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090814083508im_/http://nationalatlas.gov/images/LOGOS/MLD/logo_inegi.gif) ![opens the National Atlas of the United States home page](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090814083508im_/http://nationalatlas.gov/images/LOGOS/MLD/logo_na.gif) |
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 – Roads data set shows the roads of North
America at 1:10,000,000 scale. The roads included are either those
that connect major centers of population or selected frontier roads. Roads
under construction are not shown. There are three road classes:
Major roads, which are divided, multi-lane, limited access highways;
Secondary roads, which are all roads that do not meet the definition
of major roads; and Ferries, which are major ferry links which run either
year round or through periods when ice conditions permit. 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, hydrography, political
boundaries, populated places, railroads,
and sea ice. |
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