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Film summary
Charting the waters around the Scottish island of Orkney was a pivotal moment in maritime mapping. But a reliance on outdated maps places modern ships in danger.Key facts
- Before mapping of the sea floor began, hazards hidden beneath the waves were responsible for destroying hundreds of ships and killing many sailors.
- In 1743, Murdoch Mackenzie mapped the ocean floor around the island of Orkney and invented new mapping symbols.
- Today, sound waves can be used to accurately measure the depth of water.
- Mapping the seabed is important for uncovering hazards, which ultimately saves lives.
Transcript
Rumbling and roaring, the sea around the Scottish island of Orkney is a frightening beast.
It destroyed hundreds of ships and killed many sailors, until one man revealed what lay beneath the waves.
In the 18th century, the waters around Orkney were busy with ships crossing the North Atlantic Ocean for trade.
Orkney's …
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