**Descripton**

basemap - plot on map projections (with coastlines and political boundaries)
using matplotlib.

**Requirements**

matplotlib 0.90 (or higher)

numpy 1.0 (or higher)

Shapely (http://trac.gispython.org/projects/PCL/wiki/Shapely - svn version)

Shapely requires libgoes_c version 2.2.3, available from
http://geos.refractions.net/, and ctypes (which comes with python >= 2.5,
but can be installed separately for python 2.4)

**Copyright**

source code from proj.4 (http://proj.maptools.org) is included in the
'src' directory (under the terms given in LICENSE_proj4).

pyshapelib by Bernhard Herzog is included in the 'pyshapelib' directory
under the terms given in LICENSE_pyshapelib.

the coastline, lake, river and political boundary data are extracted
from datasets provided with the Generic Mapping Tools
(http://gmt.soest.hawaii.edu)
and are included under the terms given in LICENSE_data.

a public domain 5-minute land/sea/lake mask dataset from
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/cdroms/graham/graham/graham.htm
is included.

Everything else (including src/_proj.pyx, src/_geod.pyx, src/_pyproj.pxi,
src/_proj.c and src/_geod.c):

copyright (c) 2007 by Jeffrey Whitaker.

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
provided that the above copyright notices appear in all copies and that
both the copyright notices and this permission notice appear in
supporting documentation.
THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE,
INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO
EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF
USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR
OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR
PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

**Documentation** 

see basemap.py docstrings.

see scripts in 'examples' directory for example usage.

read the FAQ and/or email the matplotlib-users mailing list if 
you have problems or questions.

**Install**

First, install pre-requisites (see **Requirements** above).

Then download basemap-X.Y.Z.tar.gz from
the sourceforge download site, unpack,
cd to basemap-X.Y.Z and run 'python setup.py install'.

The crude ('c'), low ('l') and intermediate ('i') resolution
boundary data files, plus the 5-minute land/sea mask, are installed
by default. If you need the high ('h') resolution boundary dataset
you can download the files from the sourceforge download site
(basemap-data-hires-X.Y.Z.tar.gz). To install them,
untar the file in the top-level directory of the basemap source 
distribution (where this README file lives), then run 
'python setup.py install' again.

Note:  if you install from a subversion checkout, you will get the high 
resolution coastlines by default.

**Contact**

Jeff Whitaker <jeffrey.s.whitaker@noaa.gov>


**Thanks**

to

John Hunter
Andrew Straw
Eric Firing
Rob Hetland
Scott Sinclair
Ivan Lima

for valuable contributions.