How to use the Macrostrat API in C#
Geologic maps, rock columns and stratigraphy data. This guide calls it from C# with code we've run against the live endpoint.
Online · 694 msEndpoint tested Oct 24, 2026
1. What you need
.NET 6 or newer. Paste into a top-level `Program.cs` and run `dotnet run`.
No API key or sign-up. Endpoint: https://macrostrat.org/api
2. Make the request
using System.Net.Http;
using var http = new HttpClient { Timeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10) };
var json = await http.GetStringAsync("https://macrostrat.org/api");
Console.WriteLine(json);3. The response
Trimmed from the live response on Oct 24, 2026.
{
"success": {
"v": 2,
"description": "This is the root of the Macrostrat API",
"changelog": "/changes",
"license": "CC-BY 4.0. More info at /meta",
"routes": {
"/columns": "Search and summarize columns based on unit properties or geographic location",
"/sections": "Summarize units by gap-bound packages",
"/units": "all Macrostrat units matching search criteria",
"/fossils": "Paleobiology Database (http://paleobiodb.org) collections matched to Macrostr...",
"/stats": "statistics about the Macrostrat database",
"/paleogeography": "Returns paleogeography geometry from \"Wright et al. (2013) Towards community-...",
"/geologic_units/map": "Geologic map units from various data sources",
"/geologic_units/map/points": "Query point features from geologic maps",
"/geologic_units/map/legend": "Retrieve legends for geologic map units",
"/measurements": "measurements",
"/age_model": "Get all components of column age models; mostly unit_boundaries but can inclu...",
"/eodp": "eODP Macrostrat Baggage Stripper Import"
}
}
}4. Before you ship
- Set a timeout and handle non-200 responses: free APIs can rate-limit or go down.
- Cache responses where you can, instead of calling the API on every page view.
- Read the official documentation ↗ for rate limits and terms of use.
FAQ
Does the Macrostrat API need an API key in C#?
No. The Macrostrat API works without an API key, so the C# example runs as-is.
Can I call the Macrostrat API from the browser?
Yes. It sends CORS headers, so front-end JavaScript can call it directly.
What does the Macrostrat API return?
JSON. The example response on this page is trimmed from a real response our health check received on Oct 24, 2026.
Same API in: Python · JavaScript · Node.js · PHP · Java · Go · Ruby
Macrostrat API: ratings & reviews · Macrostrat API alternatives · more free APIs for C#