Most people think of maps as representations of land. They consult them to figure out the location of places such as cities, mountains, rivers, and roads. They may look at maps to see the historical changes to a place over time or to locate specific monuments and man-made landmarks. There is, however, another reason to consult a map and that is to understand a large body of water.
Maps of seas, oceans, and even large lakes can tell a lot — and not just about the body of water. They can reveal the water’s impact on the land, and therefore the people, that border it. For instance, looking at a detailed indian ocean map quickly reveals that it will likely influence the climate, weather, and related elements in not just India, but also the eastern coast of Africa and the western parts of Australia as well as parts of southeast Asia and the Middle East.
There are several different types of maps associated with large bodies of water. The first is a simple political map, which shows the countries, islands, and possibly the major cities surrounding, in and near it. When looking at such a map of the Indian Ocean, the countries on the immediate coast of eastern Africa, such as Kenya, Mozambique, and Somalia are shown, but countries further inland are not named (though their borders may be indicated). This is because the map is intended to show those political bodies that are affected by the Indian Ocean. The further inland a country is, the less likely they are to rely on the Ocean for trade or have their weather or climate affected.
A second type of water map is a nautical chart. These maps use hydrographic data to display a variety of information about an ocean, sea, or strait. This can include the water depths, seabed natural features, navigational hazards, information on currents and tides, and even details regarding the planet’s magnetic field, which can affect navigation. The coastline may be represented, including elevations, harbors, bridges and other man-made structures. Lastly, some nautical charts show the location of navigational aids, such as natural landmarks and navigation buoys.
It is fairly easy to obtain a map of the Indian Ocean, or other oceans and bodies of water. In addition to digital mapping technology, some map companies now have the ability to “print on demand” both regular maps and nautical charts.