Explore new polar maps online
A new map catalogue with access to a large collection of freely available polar maps is now available online. Many of these maps were previously unavailable to the public and the catalogue contains a significant number of items, showing some of the most interesting areas of Antarctica. Our series of professionally printed, award-winning maps are featured in the catalogue, with comprehensive information about each map and details on where to purchase them.
The catalogue currently contains four collections which will be expanded over time: these are general interest maps, our published topographic and thematic maps, published geological maps, and ‘Operations maps’, mostly for internal use.
General interest maps
The ‘General Interest’ maps provide educators and Antarctic enthusiasts with a comprehensive overview. The maps aim to cover some of the most interesting areas in Antarctica, particularly those where BAS works and carries out vital environmental research. The collection also features maps of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. South Georgia is well-known for its pristine and unique wildlife habitats and also for its history, with Shackleton finishing his journey for survival by crossing the island from south to north after his ship was crushed in sea ice in the Weddel Sea. Some of the most well-known sites of interest are marked on the map, as well as historic disused whaling stations.
Another map of interest is a freely available map of the Arctic. The map is useful for educators and those wishing to see an overview of the fascinating and variable Arctic landscapes. It highlights key locations and displays the vast mountain ranges running through parts of Canada, the USA and Russia. This map is available to download in full resolution as a pdf, jpeg or png.
Published topographic and thematic maps
The ‘Published Maps’ collection displays our key maps that are currently available to purchase. These are produced by leading cartographers in the Mapping and Geographic Information Centre at BAS. The maps are used by scientists and operational workers throughout the global polar community, as well as being of great interest to tourists and those with a fascination of Antarctica and the Arctic.
BAS’s flagship double-sided map of Antarctica and the Arctic features in the collection, detailing both poles and allowing the user to see the differences and similarities between the fragile environments. The newly released double-sided map of Alexander Island also features here. The maps can be purchased as folded copies with a high-quality, glossy card cover, or as flat versions to be displayed on a wall. They are professionally printed by the same printers as Ordnance Survey maps.
Published geological maps
The catalogue contains 8 geological maps from the BAS GEOMAP 2 Series. These maps display over 50 years of geological mapping, covering key areas of interest in the British Antarctic Territory, as well as the South Sandwich Islands and the Drake Passage. Digital copies of these maps are freely available to download, and paper copies complete with glossy card covers can be purchased from a number of suppliers.
Operations maps
Lastly, the BAS Operations Map collection features maps produced for BAS staff and collaborators, aiding vital logistics planning in the harsh polar environments. We produce a large selection of maps ranging from small station site plans to maps covering the entire continent detailing the routes that pilots take across the landscape. These maps are only available to staff members, but the high-level information and interesting image previews can be accessed by anyone interested in the type of maps we produce.
Access the map catalogue
The Map Catalogue can be accessed at www.bas.ac.uk/maps. Have a look through the variety of available maps, and enjoy learning more about the beautiful polar regions.
