Here Be Monster Maps

Slate has created a beautiful interactive map of Olaus Magnus’ 1539 Carta Marina. The Carta Marina is brimming with wonderful sea monsters.

Slate has made each of the monsters selectable on their interactive map, so users are able to click on each of the monsters and read how Olaus Magnus described each monster in his own commentary to the map.


Also marine related, and just as beautiful in its own way, is this live currents map of the Great Lakes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. The Great Lakes Surface Currents Map is an animated map simulating the flow patterns in the Great Lakes.

The map visualizes water motion based on data of the lake currents at the present time. The map is based on hint.fm's gorgeous Wind Map.


Unrelated to monsters or the waters deep (but a lot of fun) is GeoLive. This Leaflet map allows you to draw and add markers to a live map. That in itself is kind of neat but if there are other users on GeoLive you can watch them make their own additions to the map in real-time.

The map even includes a chat option. You can therefore chat to other users of the map and, if so inspired, collaborate and work together on your mapping missions.