My intent for this geographical map was to examine the interstate highways that run through New England. I wanted to do this because I am frequently traveling on these roads. I go to school in Rhode Island, but I return home to New Hampshire to work on the weekends. I am also regularly visiting friends and family throughout Massachusetts, Burlington Vermont, and northern Maine (Beddington, Castine). I also ski throughout New England every winter. I have become proficient at navigating the highways in these states over the years, but I wanted to have an accurate visual representation so I could conceptualize my trips better. I also included major ports I would visit if sailing from New Hampshire to parts of the Downeast region (Penobscot Bay, Bar Harbor, Rockland).
The process of doing this geological map was harder that I had anticipated. By the time I had finished drawing out the states in pencil I was wishing I had done an affinity map. I was however very happy with the outcome and impressed by what I learned about the proportions of New England. I am always eager for a drive to Vermont or Maine but never to travel a much shorter distance from Rhode Island to coastal New Hampshire. It is interesting how the traffic during a 3 hour drive can make a traffic free 6 hour drive so much more bearable.
There is a compass rose orientated in the top left corner and a map Legend in the bottom right corner with an approximately accurate scale. Deep and Shallow water is indicated by lighter and darker shades of blue. Interstate highways are shown in red, developed land and thick forest are denoted by corresponding greens, and grey represents New England's neighboring territories. State Capitals are also labeled.
The central focus for this mind map was Portsmouth Harbor in New Hampshire. I work at the Portsmouth Yacht club and every year we accommodate hundreds of transient vessels making their way up or down the coast with moorings. While providing launch service I am frequently asked about the history of the harbor, and what there is do. I have lived in the area all of my life so I sometimes forget to mention the small fun things there are to do that I take for granted on a usual day. Although I have a usual spiel about historical sites and information, but through this mind map I was hoping to achieve a more thorough sensible response to the customers questions. I am current returning home to work for the yacht club on the weekends until the end of the season in mid october, so it is important to keep a sharp mind at work sense I am usually scrambling to do homework during breaks or on a slow day.
