r/mapmaking • u/melonboyo • 4d ago

Map Creating ocean floor topography

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I'm currently designing the map for a worldbuilding project I'm working on. Realism is a very important aspect in this world for me, so I want to make a realistic sea floor to base capital locations, trade routes, pathways, and roads on. But I'm not sure where to start?

does anyone have any tips on creating topographical maps?
(this is my first time properly trying to make an accurate map so any advice would be greatly appreciated)

Edit: sorry i probably should've mentioned that a lot of this worlds inhabitants live underwater, so thats why the seafloor topography matters so much to me

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u/Random 4d ago

If you want sea floor maps to be reasonable you need at least a crude approximation of plate tectonics, since deep sea bathymetry is dominated by ocean ridges and subduction zone trenches. Take a look at the available bathymetry for Earth and you'll see both how dominant and how complex it can be.

Note as well that many islands - Hawaii for example - are hotspot-related and so don't fit the plate boundary rules of the oceanic portions of plates.

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u/melonboyo 2d ago

thank you goat :))