Basic map

The basic map is an appropriate guide for everyone on the road or in the wild. It also provides a basis for other maps, for instance, specific outdoor maps that allow the users to go hiking or orienting in the terrain. For those skilled in the art the basic map is a suitable aid for making plans.  

What is shown on the map?

The basic map shows the property division, roads, houses, waterways, cultivated areas, topographic features and elevation as well as conservation and protected areas. The basic map covers the whole of Finland.  

• On the basic map 1:20 000 one map sheet covers an area of 10 x 10 km. One centimetre on the map corresponds to 200 metres in the terrain.
• On the basic map 1:25 000 one map sheet covers an area of 12 x 24 km. One centimetre on the map corresponds to 250 metres in the terrain.

The sheet line system is selected on the Citizen’s MapSite by choosing the appropriate sheet line system from the Settings.

Two scales side by side

The basic map is being renewed at scale 1:25 000. On the new basic map one map sheet covers a wider area than before, 12 km x 24 km. In addition, the new maps 1: 25 000 include

• the GPS compatible pan-European coordinate system ETRS89 (WGS 84),
• and the TM35 sheet line system, which can be selected on the Citizen’s MapSite from the Settings

The basic map at scale 1:20 000 is no longer printed. All new maps are published at scale 1:25 000. The first new basic maps were completed in autumn 2006. New and old maps are found on the market side by side, until new maps covering the entire country have been printed in the beginning of 2010.