Natural Earth, Rivers, Lake Centerlines (scale ranks + tapering) 1:10m

Single-line drainages including optional lake centerlines and supplementary data for North America and Europe. Shapefile created using rivers data that primarily derive from World Data Bank 2. Double line rivers in WDB2 were digitized to created single line drainages. All rivers received manual smoothing and position adjustments to fit shaded relief generated from SRTM Plus elevation data, which is more recent and (presumably) more accurate. Lake centerlines obtained by manually drawing connecting segments in reservoirs. When available, Admin 0 and 1 political boundaries in reservoirs serve as the lake centerlines. Ranked by relative importance. Includes name and line width attributes for creating tapered drainages.

Natural Earth I with Shaded Relief, Water, and Drainages 1:10m

Shapefile created using satellite-derived land cover data and shaded relief presented with a light, natural palette suitable for making thematic and reference maps. Go to this website for more information on Natural Earth 1. Two sizes are offered: large size at 21,600 x 10,800 pixels and medium at 16,200 x 8,100. Coloring based on land cover.

Natural Earth, Gray Earth with Shaded Relief, Hypsography, and Flat Water 1:10m

Shapefile created using relief shading and hypsography derived from modified SRTM Plus elevation data at 1km resolution. Modifications include patching the eastern Himalayas and southern Andes with better elevation data from Viewfinder Panoramas. Daniel Huffman, University of Wisconsin, Madison, created the regionally equalized hypsography that forms the foundation of Gray Earth. Two sizes are offered: large size at 21,600 x 10,800 pixels and medium at 16,200 x 8,100. The aim of Gray Earth is mapmakers working in black and white and those seeking a neutral terrain base map on which to overlay vibrant colors representing thematic data. Against the gray terrain, colors will pop. The terrain combines shaded relief and hypsography in even proportions and with just the right amount of contrast; Earth’s landforms are clear to see yet the terrain is light enough so as not to interfere with overprinting type and lines. Gray Earth is also highly malleable in Photoshop. A simple levels adjustment can make the terrain lighter or darker depending on your map design intent.

Natural Earth Lakes + Reservoirs - Natural and Artificial Lakes 1:50m

Shapefile created using generalized data from 10 million lakes theme. The 10 million lakes primarily derive from World Data Bank 2 with numerous reservoir additions from imagery sources. Diminishing areal extent of Aral Sea and Lake Chad was digitized from recent satellite imagery. Ranked by relative importance, coordinating with river ranking. Includes name attributes.

Natural Earth Rivers, Lake Centerlines (scale ranks + tapering) 1:50m

Shapefile created using generalized single-line drainages including optional lake centerlines data from the 10 million rivers. The 50 million rivers primarily derive from World Data Bank 2. Double line rivers in WDB2 were digitized to created single line drainages. All rivers received manual smoothing and position adjustments to fit shaded relief generated from SRTM Plus elevation data, which is more recent and (presumably) more accurate. Lake centerlines obtained by manually drawing connecting segments in reservoirs. When available, Admin 0 and 1 political boundaries in reservoirs serve as the lake centerlines. Ranked by relative importance. Includes name and line width attributes for creating tapered drainages.

Natural Earth I with Shaded Relief and Water 1:50m

Shapefile created using satellite-derived land cover data and shaded relief presented with a light, natural palette suitable for making thematic and reference maps. Natural Earth I is available with ocean bottom data, or without. File size: 10,800 x 5,400 pixels. Coloring based on land cover.