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1801–03: Matthew Flinders leads voyage circumnavigating the continent he names ‘Australia’
1801–03: Matthew Flinders leads voyage circumnavigating the continent he names ‘Australia’
Learn More: National Library of Australia
Captain Matthew Flinders (1774–1814) was a British navigator, hydrographer, and explorer best known for leading the first successful circumnavigation of Australia (1801–1803) and popularising the name "Australia" for the continent.
In 1804, Matthew Flinders sent Sir Joseph Banks the first accurate map depicting Australia as a single continent. Despite traveling on a barely seaworthy ship and facing severe hardship and illness, Flinders filled key cartographic gaps—such as Bass Strait and parts of the Great Australian Bight—and refined existing charts to complete the mapping of the coastline.
Map Types
Map Types
The best representation of a map in the world is a globe, but it's not convenient to carry a globe around. So the 3D globe is represented by projecting latitude and longitude onto a flat surface. There are some issues with these causing inaccuracies, though. For example, Mercator's projection distorts the size of the polar regions, Europe, and North America.
1. Reference Maps
1. Reference Maps
Physical or Relief Maps: Show natural features of the Earth like rivers, deserts, mountains, and lakes using natural environmental colors (e.g., green for land, blue for water, brown for mountains).
Topographic Maps: Show the shape of the Earth's surface using contour lines (which join points of equal elevation), as well as natural and cultural features like roads and bridges.
Political Maps: Use different colours to display countries, international borders, major cities, and oceans.
2. Thematic Maps
2. Thematic Maps
Choropleth Maps: Represent the density of values or objects in an area (such as population density) using light and dark color shading.
Flowline Maps: Use lines or arrows to illustrate movement between places, such as the migration of people, animals, goods, or money.
3. Special Purpose / Other Maps
3. Special Purpose / Other Maps
Synoptic Charts: Summarise atmospheric conditions (air pressure, precipitation, wind speed/direction) using isobars (lines connecting areas of equal air pressure).
Cadastral Maps: Show property boundaries and detailed property information for landowners and local councils.
Source: NSW HSIE
A person who makes maps is a cartographer.
Modern Map Maker: Video Tom Patterson
His site: https://www.shadedrelief.com/
Equal Earth Political Wall Map
Island Southeast Asia Physical Map
land
Do maps show the true size for each contents?
Do maps show the true size for each contents?
The True size map
The True size map
2D maps like the Mercader Projection map distorts the true size of some continents or countries. Check out the true size here!
Because Earth is a round 3D sphere, flattening it onto a 2D piece of paper always creates stretching and distortion.
Because Earth is a round 3D sphere, flattening it onto a 2D piece of paper always creates stretching and distortion.
Wind Maps
Wind Maps
Australian and Global wind maps
IMG_6909.MOVWater Vapor
Water Vapor
What is cause vapor to condense?
IMG_6917.MOVAir Movement
Air Movement
Why does air more?
Google Earth
Google Earth
NASA
NASA
Swafford S3 T3 2026
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