Is my map geographically well done?

[Facubaci]

Hello everyone.

Some time ago I finished a map for a story. The problem is I do not have much knowledge about real geography. Despite being a fictional story, I want that geography will be as real as possible, with nothing "impossible to really happen."

Here is the map. Any comments/recommendations are welcome.
Thank you very much and happy new year to all.

Notes: -The real scale is 150 km. not 100km.
-I couldn't delete the names, so I'will be pleased if you don't steal me.
-I uploaded the map in PDF for two reasons: it is lighter. And names are blurred for security. If you can not see the rivers or forests, just tell me.

Map:

https://es.scribd.com/doc/251360242/PDF-MAP1

[Ascension]

The only thing that I saw that warrants attention is the river-splitting issue. Rivers join together on their way to the ocean, small creeks feed into larger rivers, they do not split apart and go off on their merry little way to somewhere else. I'm no geologist and I didn't scrutinize it. I look at it and say, good enough for me to accept as plausible. On the whole it looks nice.

[Chick]

The map is pretty, but since you ask about the geography/geology, here are a few things:

1. Rivers, as Ascension says, are way wrong. Study this thread: http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=3822

2. Mountain ranges don't just end and then start again further down the line. While there may be a break where a river runs through, the range is normally one long chain.

3. Most maps have North at the top. I notice your compass rose has North to the right side.

4. The long stretch of water vertically near the right edge is very strange. If it is intended as a big river, see number 1 above. If it is intended as part of the sea, and that is a large island to the right, it's a poor shape. Islands don't form in a way that looks like a piece of cookie that broke off the mainland, and especially not with a mountain range. That mountain range on the right would form due to compression of tectonic plates, which would tend to shove that "island" tightly into the mainland.

On the positive side,

1. Your coastline is quite nice, fractal and not overly crazy, and the rivers do empty into bays, at least in places.

2. Your forests are nice and in quite reasonable places, hugging mountains and along rivers.

3. Other than that whatever on the right, the rest of your islands look nice, good shape, reasonable places and sizes.

Lots of potential here, clean up those few things, especially the rivers, and you've got a very nice map!!

[Facubaci]

Thank you very much! I will try to correct some things and I'll read the topic suggested by chick.

Another thing : I'll appreciate it if you could send a fast-easy sketch of what you consider well and properly drawn rivers , forests or other things that are in a wrong position.

Thanks and greetings from Argentina!

[Chick]

Here is an example of proper dendritic rivers: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ivermapnew.jpg

[Facubaci]

Thanks, chick. Now I see clearer.
Another question, guys. How do you usually put your names of cities, rivers and mountains in the map? I mean, I have a language that i have created for my own story, and the people in the cities speaks that language. Should I put names like "Old Forest", normal-english language, or "Parmindor", my language (and the citizen's language)?
I'm wondering because I like to think that my map was created by an inhabitant of the continent. So, maybe he calls "Parmindor" rather than "Old Forest", no? And another think: I have many breeds in that continent, some speak another language (which I've created too), Then a man who calls "Parmindor" (Old Forest) to a forest in human zone should be different from the language used by Dwarves, for example. A dwarf can call "Endemer" as "Old Forest". So what should I use? Common english language or the language of each area?

I hope you understand.

Thanks again, and cheers for this night.

[Chick]

Maps are for someone to use to know where things are and what things are where .... therefore the language you use on the map should be in the language of the person who will use the map, not in the language of the people who live in the locale depicted on the map.

I guess the exception to this would be if you want to portray a map that had been made by a local and you want to deliberately force the user to translate or decipher it (for example the runes on the map of The Hobbit).

[Soixante]

It's also quite possible to include both. So you would have "Parmindor", and in smaller size just below that, "The Old Forest".