Map Collection and Cartographic Information Services Unit

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Nautical and Aeronautical Charts

Frequently Used Resources

What Are Nautical and Aeronautical Charts?
What Does The Map Collection Have?
How Do I Find Charts?
Can I Check Charts Out?
Where Can I Buy Charts?

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What Are Nautical and Aeronautical Charts?

A nautical chart is a graphic portrayal of the marine environment showing the nature and form of the coast, the depths of water and general character and configuration of the sea bottom, locations of dangers to navigation, the rise and fall of the tides, locations of man-made aids to navigation, and the characteristics of the Earth's magnetism. Nautical charts are essential for safe marine navigation. (Adapted from the NOAA website.)

Aeronautical charts are similar to nautical charts, except that their function is to aid pilots of aircraft. As a result, these charts emphasize topography, heights of obstructions, airports, and airways. (Thanks to the Encyclopedia Britannica Online.)

What Does The Map Collection Have?

The University of Washington Map Collection has the most recent available nautical and aeronautical charts of the world, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest. Superseded charts are discarded, with the exception of charts for Washington State, which are moved to our historic map cases. For details on coverage, see below.

How Do I Find Charts?

Charts are only listed in the UW Library Catalog by series name. Each chart series has one record, which contains an item list of the individual maps by chart number.

Therefore, rather than looking in the catalog first:

1. Ask Map Staff which series will best suit your needs.
2. Find the index map for the series you want. Index maps are filed in the first drawer of each series. Consult the floor plan of the Map Collection to find the Navigational Charts (dark green). A few index maps can also be found online (see below).
3. Charts are filed by number within each series.

The Map Collection's holdings include the following series:

World

• The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) series of nautical charts covers the world in a variety of scales. (Please note that this government agency's name has now changed to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).) Here is the NIMA series record in the UW Libraries Catalog.
• Tactical Pilotage Charts (TPCs), which are aeronautical charts, cover the world at a scale of 1:500,000. They are a good alternative to topographic maps for those areas of the world which are not covered by our topographic sets. The Map Town online store, a Canadian map dealer, has an index map of TPCs and ONCs. Here is the TPC series record in the UW Libraries Catalog.
• Operational Navigation Charts (ONCs) are aeronautical charts that cover the world at a scale of 1:1,000,000. The Map Town online store, a Canadian map dealer, has an index map of TPCs and ONCs. Here is the ONC series record in the UW Libraries Catalog.

Canada and the United States

• Canada (British Columbia only): Our holdings of Canadian Hydrographic Service nautical charts are for the province of British Columbia only in a variety of scales. Here is the Canadian nautical charts series record in the UW Libraries Catalog.
• United States: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) series of nautical charts covers the United States in a variety of scales. Here is the NOAA series record in the UW Libraries Catalog.
• Washington State (historic): Historic Nautical Charts for Washington State, 19th and Early 20th Centuries is a numbered list of the UW Map Collection's historic nautical charts with index maps showing exactly where each chart can be found in the Map Collection.

Nautical charts are filed in the map cases directly beneath the sign for nautical charts which is hanging from the ceiling. Aeronautical charts are filed in the nearby black or gray filing cabinets. Please ask Map Staff for assistance to locate maps in your area of interest.

Can I Check Charts Out?

Yes, most charts circulate, except for some historical charts. For more information, review our policies under Checking Out and Handling Materials.

Where Can I Buy Charts?

• Nautical charts:
  • World, Pacific Northwest: Captain's Nautical Supplies, located in Seattle, sells paper charts not just of the Pacific Northwest waters, but also all over the world.
  • Non-U.S. Waters: Visit NGA's Hydrographic Products Catalog.
  • U.S. Waters: Visit the NOAA's Chartmaker.
  • U.S. Waters: The National Ocean Survey's Mapfinder offers a searching tool to find specific data for purchase.
• Aeronautical charts: The National Aeronautical Charting Office (NACO) sells aeronautical charts for the U.S. and the whole world.
• Consult our list of Where to Buy Maps for more general resources.

Frequently Used Resources

NOAA's historical map and chart collection
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's collection of nautical materials "contains over 20,000 maps and charts from the late 1700s to present day."

Historic Nautical Charts for Washington State, 19th and Early 20th Centuries
The UW Map Collection's numbered list of historic nautical charts with index maps shows exactly where each chart can be found in the Map Collection.

Maps/GIS Resource Page (University of Washington Libraries)
This is a collection of websites for cartographic information, organized by geography, which have been selected by UW librarians.

Questions? Comments? Please email us at maplib@u.washington.edu