#286 Boundaries provided in Basemap

The basemap library (closely linked with matplotlib) contains a database with several boundaries. Thus, it is easy to represent the limits of countries, states and counties, without having to load a shape file. Here is how to show these 3 types of boundaries:

• Countries
• Counties
• States

• 

  #286 Country boundaries

  To show the countries on your map, use the map.drawcountries function. Note that you can custom this boundaries: color, width, alpha..

  
  # Libraries
  from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap
  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  # Initialize the map
  map = Basemap(llcrnrlon=-160, llcrnrlat=-60,urcrnrlon=160,urcrnrlat=70)
  
  # Continent and countries!
  map.drawmapboundary(fill_color='#A6CAE0')
  map.fillcontinents(color='#e6b800',lake_color='#e6b800')
  map.drawcountries(color="white")
  plt.show()
  
  

   

• 

  #286 Counties boundaries

  To add counties, use… drawcounties() ! 🙂

  
  # libraries
  from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap
  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  # initialise
  map = Basemap(llcrnrlon=-130, llcrnrlat=25, urcrnrlon=-65.,urcrnrlat=52.,resolution='i', lat_0 = 40., lon_0 = -80)
  
  # show counties
  map.drawmapboundary(fill_color='#A6CAE0')
  map.fillcontinents(color='#e6b800',lake_color='#A6CAE0')
  map.drawcounties()
  plt.show()
  
  

   

• 

  #286 State boundaries

  To add states, use… drawstates() ! 🙂

  
  # libraries
  from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap
  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  # initialise
  map = Basemap(llcrnrlon=-130, llcrnrlat=25, urcrnrlon=-65.,urcrnrlat=52.,resolution='i', lat_0 = 40., lon_0 = -80)
  
  # map states
  map.drawmapboundary(fill_color='#A6CAE0')
  map.fillcontinents(color='#e6b800',lake_color='#A6CAE0')
  map.drawstates()
  map.drawcountries()
  plt.show()