Base maps contain basic visible surface features and boundaries. They are also called outline maps because the most prominent feature is the outline of the country's political boundaries.
These are the best maps to use for PowerPoint or other audiovisual presentations which need a basic map of a province, state, country, or region.
To find base maps in the UW Libraries Catalog, go to our Tips for Searching the Catalog. Not all of these maps have records in the catalog, so please ask the Map Collection staff for assistance if you cannot find what you are looking for.
Maps on File / Facts On File, Inc.
Maps Reference G1046.A1
F3 2003
This resource covers the whole world, and includes a hard-to-find small
base map of the Pacific Rim.
The
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
This site has many scanned simple CIA base maps.
National
Geographic's MapMachine: Country Profiles
This section of the MapMachine has outline maps available of countries
and states/provinces under each profile.
About.com's
Geography page: free outline maps
This page has free outline maps of most countries (although "some
microstates consisting of a very small territory or single small island
have been excluded").
The
Library of Congress, Geography and Maps Division: Contemporary Maps,
1960-Present
Some outline maps are available in this list. Consult their copyright
information and restrictions for more information.
Houghton Mifflin Education Place Outline Maps
"These maps may be printed and copied for personal or classroom use.
To request permission for other purposes please contact the Rights
and Permissions Department."
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.
