Titled “Portolan Atlas of the Mediterranean Sea, Western Europe and the Northwest Coast of Africa” by a cataloger, Catalan cartographer Joan Oliva is believed to be the mapmaker behind the creation of this portolan chart created in Italy in 1590. This chart, which represents the [Eastern Mediterranean] is one of five portolan charts in the […]

“Another Unsung Beauty by Lisa And Her Team”

In early times, the Mediterranean Sea was the central point of transport, trade and cultural connection between North Africa, Western Asia and Southern Europe. The Italians, the Genoese and the Venetians, in particular, made their mark on the Mediterranean shores as traders. Sailing by way of the Mediterranean and Black Seas was essential to commerce […]

“Another Unsung Beauty by Lisa And Her Team”

The nautical chart titled A Portolan Chart of the Atlantic Ocean and Adjacent Continents was published in 1633 and is attributed to Dutch cartographer Pascal Roiz. Roiz worked as a cartographer during the second half of the 17th and early 18th centuries. In the 1640s, he worked under the guidance of Willem Blaeu in Amsterdam, […]

  There’s more to a lake than it simply being a body of water. Many lakes have helped to shape the vibrant history and culture of certain regions. Lakes provides environmental benefits, influence quality of life, strengthen economies through tourism, provide amazing opportunities for recreation and cottage/residential living, and serve as a source of drinking […]

Housed in the Library of Congress is the Portolan Chart of the Mediterranean and Connecting Seas. This 1550 portolan chart’s cartographer is unknown, and its title is one devised by a cataloguer. Still, its significance is not to be overlooked as it represents a significant example of an early marine invention that greatly enhanced sea […]

The Crystal Coast is an 85-mile stretch of coastline extending from the Cape Lookout National Seashore to southwestward to the New River, encompassing the entire area along the Bogue Banks, a barrier island that stretches for more than 20 miles. It is a mixture of colorful history, quiet stretches of beaches, quaint small towns, historic homes, picturesque […]

John C. Fremont was an American military officer, early explorer and mapmaker, who was instrumental in the mapping of the American West, and in effect, facilitated settlement in the region, in places like Oregon and California. On his 1842 scientific expedition, Fremont examined the Oregon Trail through the South Pass, detailing the rivers, fertility of […]

Forget about a tropical retreat for a moment and think of a panoramic valley, dotted with cows, vineyards, iconic lighthouses, whale watching in the distance, and lush forest. San Juan Island is one of four islands, and the second-largest of the San Juan Archipelago, located in the northwest region of the contiguous United States between the […]