Maps have been around for centuries- they help us know what cultures were aware of in terms of their neighbors, other lands, and so on. Map making continues today, as we map other planets, the bottom of the seas, and continually produce high quality maps here that measure various aspects of culture, demographics, and geography.
cross-posted from: https://sffa.community/post/2039338
From the Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series (second era)
Those waterway spokes would be so nasty that mosquitos might not be able breed in them despite the water stagnation.