Long before GPS and electronic chart plotters, sailors relied on carefully crafted charts to find safe passage across unfamiliar waters. For centuries these maps have guided explorers, merchants, fishermen and recreational sailors alike, evolving from hand-drawn coastal sketches into the highly accurate digital charts used today. In this article, we explore the fascinating history of nautical charts, how they have developed over the centuries, and the role they continue to play in modern navigation.
nautical charts
Mercator Maps
Mercator Maps: The Projection That Changed Navigation Forever
Gerardus Mercator was born on 5 March 1512 in Rupelmonde, Belgium. A brilliant cartographer, geographer, and cosmographer, Mercator would go on to create a map projection that permanently changed the world of navigation.