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Posted by: Lena Denis
The deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean can be found about 100 miles north of Puerto Rico, in a trench where two tectonic plates meet. This post discusses the Puerto Rico Trench's unique geology and efforts to map it.
Posted in: 19th century cartography, 20th century cartography, Exploration, Geographic Information Science, Physical Geography
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
Celebrate Geography Awareness Week and GIS Day at the Library of Congress on Thursday, November 21st from 5pm to 8pm with Mapping Our World, a special Live! at the Library event diving into ocean mapping and exploration! This event will feature a collections display, interactive games and crafts, and a talk by Dr. Vicki Ferrini of Columbia University on the history of ocean mapping.
Posted in: Events, Exploration, Geographic Information Science, Physical Geography
Posted by: Lena Denis
Growing up in a Brazilian-American household, I’ve long appreciated the delicious versatility of the Atlantic cod, scientific name Gadus morhua, known to the Portuguese-speaking world as bacalhau in its preferred salted and dried form. It was only when I began working as a map librarian, however, that I saw how powerful cod truly was. Centuries …
Posted in: 16th century cartography, 18th century cartography, American History, European History, Exploration
Posted by: Cynthia Smith
Topographical maps of Venus are featured in this post. The transit of Venus is also discussed.
Posted in: 18th century cartography, 19th century cartography, 20th century cartography, Exploration
Posted by: Cynthia Smith
This post is about maps related to the voyages of Sir Francis Drake in the collections of the Library of Congress. The maps are held in both the Geography and Map Division and the Hans Peter Kraus Collection of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division.
Posted in: 16th century cartography, American History, European History, Exploration
Posted by: Cynthia Smith
A picture of a skull and crossbones marks the location of a special collection in the Geography and Map Division. The collection consists of wreck charts published by U.S. federal government agencies, treasure maps made by famous cartographers during the 18th and 19th centuries, and treasure maps published by commercial companies during the mid -20th …
Posted in: 18th century cartography, 19th century cartography, 20th century cartography, Exploration
Posted by: Amelia Raines
The story of the naming of America has been told before – not surprisingly considering the object central to the story, Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 world map, is one of the most important treasures in the Geography and Map Division. The name was bestowed by the mapmaker to show his support for Amerigo Vespucci’s argument that …
Posted in: 15th century cartography, 16th century cartography, 17th century cartography, 18th century cartography, 19th century cartography, African History, American History, Asian History, European History, Exploration, Middle East and North African History, Oceania
Posted by: Julie Stoner
A post about Alexander Mackenzie and the first known trans continental crossing of North America.
Posted in: 18th century cartography, Exploration
Posted by: Cynthia Smith
Featured below is a map known as the “Map with Ship.” The map was donated to the Library of Congress in 1943 by a retired merchant and author named Marcian F. Rossi. Marcian Rossi was born in Italy in 1870. He moved to the United States during the 1880s. The Rossi family inherited a collection …
Posted in: Asian History, European History, Exploration