Cool article, with some nice insight into Huckleberry Finn (the novel), as well as the promised maps. Which is why I don't understand the responses here on HN.

Cool article, with some nice insight into Huckleberry Finn (the novel), as well as the promised maps. Which is why I don't understand the responses here on HN. One says the maps where "metaphorical." No the maps were extremely precise, or at least as precise as could be for being based on a novel. The maps did take some liberties with scale and distortion, but that was for two obvious reasons: 1) to fit all the information at several scales into one set of maps, and 2) to be pieces of art in themselves. So you could say these were very precise maps with a highly unusual and non-regular projection and lots of embellishment, but they very literally map the journey in the novel. I would argue that they are actually very effective at displaying large and small scale details in the same frame. Notice I said projection. There certainly exists a mathematical function that would transform these maps into WGS 84, or whatever datum you are more used to. Actually, it's intriguing to think about that function and how it would work. To the one who thought this had something to do with github, I say you need to be a bit more open and less focused on tech--a common problem on HN, despite the proliferation of non-tech articles. Plus, it's not like startups haven't been copying each other's domain names since forever. I mean it's one thing to be surprised that the content is not what you expected from the name alone, it's another to leave a comment about it. Finally to SwellJoe, I admire your sense of adventure, but I urge caution. From my own investigations, even with a well-found boat, navigating the Mississippi is beyond novice-level. It's been channeled and dredged, has lots of currents, and is plied by commercial traffic. I'm afraid that even a house-boat wouldn't have the power or maneuverability to deal with that--better to get a regular live-aboard motorboat. Search for information on the Great Loop. It seems like most pleasure craft take the Tenn-Tom to avoid the lower Mississippi.