karttatasossa

Karttatasossa is a Finnish term that translates to "map scale" in English. It refers to the ratio between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. This ratio is crucial for understanding the real-world dimensions represented by the map. Map scales are typically expressed in one of three ways: as a ratio, a fraction, or a graphic scale.

A ratio scale might appear as 1:100,000, meaning one unit of measurement on the map represents 100,000 of the same units on the ground. A fractional scale could be written as 1/100,000, conveying the same information. A graphic scale, often shown as a bar, allows users to measure distances directly on the map and then read the corresponding ground distance from the bar.

The karttatasossa determines the level of detail a map can show. Large-scale maps, which have a smaller ratio (e.g., 1:1,000), cover a smaller area but display more detail, making them suitable for local or urban planning. Small-scale maps, with larger ratios (e.g., 1:1,000,000), cover vast areas like continents or the entire world but show less detail, being useful for general geographical overviews. Understanding the karttatasossa is fundamental for accurate interpretation and use of any map.