USGS Topographic Maps
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The USGS Topographic Maps layer has been available for use in OSM editors. There are many features shown on the maps that are useful for OSM that haven't already been added by imports like GNIS or TIGER. This is a guide to help mappers identify these features.
 | USGS topo maps are often decades old, with some quads on the map layer being from the 1950s. Always check if features are still on the ground and haven't moved! |
Common abbreviations and short forms
| WT | Water tank |
| Pt | Point |
| Spr | Spring |
| Gl | Gulch |
| Rk | Rock |
Tables for common features
| Feature images | Tagging | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
|
man_made=pier | |
| man_made=groyne | ||
| man_made=breakwater | ||
|
See Marine navigation | |
|
historic=wreck | |
| natural=rock or natural=bare_rock | ||
| natural=shoal | ||
| natural=reef | ||
|
natural=cape | |
| natural=peninsula | ||
|
leisure=slipway | |
| lock=yes | ||
| man_made=bridgebridge:movable=* | ||
| waterway=stream | ||
| waterway=river | ||
| waterway=*intermittent=yes | ||
| waterway=rapids (see also whitewater:rapid_grade=* and whitewater:section_grade=*) | ||
| waterway=waterfall | ||
| natural=bare_rock or natural=shoalsurface=rocky | ||
| man_made=offshore_platform | ||
| natural=bay |
| Feature images | Tagging | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| landuse=reservoir or natural=water water=reservoir | In Arizona and New Mexico, features labeled <name> Tank are almost not water tanks. They are reservoirs that were historically built by ranchers used for grazing livestock. Most are already mapped from NHD imports. | |
| man_made=mineshaft | Mining features were often abandoned years ago, add abandoned=yes for still-visible abandoned mines, and use historic=<mine,mineshaft,adit,quarry> for mining features that are not visible. | |
| man_made=adit | ||
| landuse=quarry | ||
| man_made=petroleum_well and landuse=industrial industrial=oil for the area with associated infrastructure. | ||
| man_made=tower tower:type=watchtower | ||
| man_made=tower tower:type=communication | ||
| power=line and power=tower for the towers as nodes | ||
| man_made=windpump | Similar to mining features, ranch and farm features can be long abandoned. Only map features that are still on the ground. The names of the former ranches or corrals could still be used for rural navigation and orienteering, so consider leaving them as localities. | |
| barrier=fence, sometimes within landuse=farmyard or landuse=meadow | ||
| place=locality if completely uninhabited/abandoned, place=isolated_dwelling if still occupied | ||
| tourism=picnic_site | ||
| natural=water water=wastewater | ||
| landuse=basin | ||
| historic=archaeological_site site_type=settlement |