If you’re into conversation pieces, check out the stories associated with these five charts!
The Bering Strait, NGA Chart 96036
When you cross the Bering Strait, the gap between the U.S. and Russia is only 85 kilometers. From the strait, you can see both countries at once and might even spot a nuclear submarine on patrol. Ground zero between two superpowers, the strait is also home to fur seals and sea otters, several whale species and plenty of salmon, herring, cod, flounder, and halibut.
Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, NGA Chart 302, Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Part
The big bend along Turkey’s southwest shore is a little-known gem of the Mediterranean Sea, with turquoise bays and the Oludeniz lagoon. Known as the Turkish Riviera, the area boasts warm seas, beautiful beaches, and two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—the Mausoleum of Maussollos and the Temple of Artemis.
Goa and Kerala, India, NGA Chart 63005, Bombay to Cochin
Stretching from Goa to near India’s southern tip, the fabled Malabar Coast was once renowned for its fabulous riches and wealthy seaports. Now, travelers come to enjoy its beaches, cruise the coastal canals in luxury houseboats or relax in the area’s posh oceanfront resorts. Calangute Beach and Butterfly Beach are among the area’s most popular destinations.
Skeleton Coast, Namibia, NGA Chart 203, Ascension Island and Luanda to Walvis Bay
Pull your craft along the northern reaches of Walvis Bay and watch for elephants thundering down the beach! The bay itself is a deep, safe haven protected by Pelican Point—the only natural harbor along the Namibian coast. Where else can you see southern right and humpback whales and then look off toward shore and see huge sand dunes?
Beagle Channel, Chile and Argentina, NGA Chart 609, Valparaiso to Islas Diego Ramirez
CNN’s travel writers say it best: “Named after the Royal Navy ship that took Charles Darwin on his global voyage of discovery, the channel runs 240 kilometers along the south side of Tierra del Fuego island. Flanked by snow-capped peaks, thick sub-polar forest, and tidewater glaciers tumbling down from the Cordillera Darwin ice field, the largely uninhabited shore offers a glimpse of planet Earth the way it must have been before mankind.”
