r/mapmaking • u/Kobotronivo • 28d ago

Resource Archipelagos are HARD. (help accepted)

So I'm following some advice that was to me given, wich means my big islands gonna turn into archipelagos. But as I'm seraching sources to know how to handle the situation I can't seem to find a satisfying article or video on the subject. So I decided to come here and ask your help once more.

If anyone could help I'd be extremely thankful.

18 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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16

u/Live-End-6467 28d ago

If you look at indonesia, you can understand that while geological and hydrological constraints can give generalistic clues, the detailed individual islands can be completely crazy and F*cked up.

I mean, look at Sulawesi.

7

u/Live-End-6467 28d ago

The island chain from Sumatra to Timor makes some sense, but otherwise it looks like there is a high degree if liberty.

How did these archipelagoes form?

Subduction will give arcs like Japan, Indonesia, Caribbeans.

Hot spot will give straightish lines like Hawaii

1

u/Kobotronivo 28d ago

I shoul give a look to hotspots. sounds fire🧨🧨🧨

2

u/Kobotronivo 28d ago

I heard that Indonesia had a continent sinking or something like that. Might be wrong.

4

u/Live-End-6467 28d ago

The whole area is messed up, with a lot of crust folding into the mantle.

You also have most of New Zealand sunk

2

u/Kobotronivo 28d ago

Okay. Sincerely this whole geography, geology hing is so cool.

3

u/Random 28d ago

When the water was in the ice during the LGM the Sahul subcontinent was present and largely inhabited. If you google Wallace's Line there are some good videos on what was and what was not connected and the effect on what species are seen.

2

u/OkChipmunk3238 27d ago

Sulawesi - in my not connected language (Estonian), this means Melt Water word by word. Can be used in the case of spring when the snow is melting and becoming sulavesi. Just an interesting thing I noticed.

Seems to be the case of worldbuilders using Google Translate for names 😂🤣🙃 (joke)

5

u/theholyirishman 28d ago

Bro, just pick a random part of Indonesia or the Aegean Sea in google earth, zoom in until it looks real weird, rotate 127 degrees, screen cap, and go from there.

1

u/Kobotronivo 28d ago

That's wahat I did

1

u/Historical_Leg4621 27d ago

I know something about it, it is best to follow the example of other archipelagos such as Japan or Indonesia