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A Canoe Trip Through Algonquin Park

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Why we love it

A handmade aesthetic for this map emphasizes the rustic nature of the canoe trip. Along the journey, the map author reveals clues to Algonquin Park’s history, including logging artifacts. We get a sense of exploring a new frontier despite being inside a popular, provincial park. The map author uses a stippling symbol effect to soften the hard edges of features. We love how this technique, along with the custom cartouche, reinforces a hand-inked appearance. A graphically rendered trip log highlights strenuous stretches and places where the travelers needed to portage. 

Why it works

Several well-chosen cartographic techniques work together to express a uniform aesthetic for this map. Typography and label placement are legible and informative. Only relevant labels are included to avoid visual noise. The scale bar is precise and accurate, making it easy to gauge interim trip distances. The trip breakdown maintains a consistent scale and gives a vivid sense of the paddling versus portaging components of the trip. The inset map is an effective guide to pinpoint the map area relative to recognizable features on the continent.    

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Headshot of Warren Davison, GIS analyst

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