GRANT GARSTKA

Denver – The Mile High City – resides at 5,280 feet above sea level.  Due to this fact, the number 5280 is a common site around town.  It is a number that Denverites take pride in. It can be found in logos, t-shirts, business names and it is even the namesake of a few local brews. Despite the edification of this number, 5280 is often used without spatial meaning.  What exactly does 5280 look like?  Where is 5280 on the map?

 

Using the 5,280 foot contour line, this map shows just where the mile high contour runs through the city of Denver.  Rather than simply using a Digital Elevation Model to illustrate the relief of the city, the map uses building footprint data with elevation data to highlight the urban context. In this way, the map brings together the physical landscape with the man-made to emphasize the social meaning of 5280. Two inset maps provide additional context to understanding the landscape of 5280 in Denver.

 

Seeing the city in this light gives spatial meaning to 5280.

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This map was featured as the Map of Week by the American Geographical Society.  See the article here.