Mapping the Sea

Charting the waters around the Scottish island of Orkney was a pivotal moment in maritime mapping. But a reliance on outdated maps places modern ships in danger. Human Geography - Orientation And Settlements - Learning Points. Before mapping of the sea floor began, hazards hidden beneath the waves were responsible for destroying hundreds of ships and killing many sailors. In 1743, Murdoch Mackenzie mapped the ocean floor around the island of Orkney and invented new mapping symbols. Today, sound waves can be used to accurately measure the depth of water. Mapping the seabed is important for uncovering hazards, which ultimately saves lives. A Twig Context Film. Reinforce and extend the learning required by the curriculum. Twig’s context films show abstract concepts in action in the real world.