As technology has advanced, maps have become more powerful and visually dazzling. Those same advancements have also introduced more standardization of maps.
Some of the earliest maps in human history were painted on cave walls or carved on clay tablets. They used available materials and reflected the unique needs of their creators. Today, maps often take the shape of rectangles or squares. They have standardized orientations and projections. Along the way, some of the novelty and ingenuity of those early maps has been lost.
This map from Aaron Koelker about map turtle ranges plays with shape to break free from the norms. It uses small multiples and hexagonal frames to mimic a turtle shell. Map turtles are the common name for the genus Graptemys, whose shells feature ridges and contours that evoke topographic maps.
The map illustrates the range for the 14 extant species of map turtles. Each individual “plate” of the shell shows the range for map turtles overall (green) and the individual species featured (yellow). While map turtles can be found across the Eastern US, they tend to cluster in rivers near the Gulf of Mexico. Some, like the Northern map turtle, have expansive ranges. But others like Cagle’s map turtle, span less than a handful of river systems.
Given their reliance on rivers, it’s no surprise that map turtles have seen their habitats threatened over time. Both the Ringed map turtle and Yellow-blotched map turtle are listed as threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Other species are protected by state governments, such as Barbour’s map turtle (Florida) and the Northern map turtle (Kansas).
Unifying the map’s subject and shape creates a memorable experience. It reinforces the story the map is telling—these unique turtles are at risk of losing their habitats. And it shows how defying conventions can amplify a map’s impact.
More to Explore
- Explore a high-resolution version of this map.
- See more of Aaron’s maps.
