Hello, PyGMT Community,
While exploring the example gallery at this link: https://www.pygmt.org/latest/gallery/maps/borders.html#sphx-glr-gallery-maps-borders-py, I noticed something worth discussing. The showcased map includes political boundaries, featuring states and provinces of various countries. However, what caught my attention is the evident outdated nature of these boundaries.
For instance, within Brazil, the map still displays two states (Mato Grosso and Tocantins) that were divided in 1979 and 1988, respectively, despite the changes.
To reproduce the map, you can utilize the following code:
import pygmt
fig = pygmt.Figure()
fig.basemap(region=[-150, -30, -60, 60], projection="I-90/15c", frame="afg")
fig.coast(borders=["1/0.5p,black", "2/0.5p,red", "3/0.5p,blue"], land="gray")
fig.show()
In my experience, I often use the Cartopy library to plot geographical data in Python. Cartopy relies on the Natural Earth Feature database, which tends to be more up-to-date. I’m uncertain about the complexity involved, but considering an update to the geographic data source might greatly benefit the tool’s usability and credibility.
Best regards,
Robson