The Anticyclone in a Dog’s Belly

Abstract

This study focuses on the cartographic representation of water fronts, in particular coastal, intertidal landscapes.

The case study is Cabedelo do Douro, a semi-permanent sand formation at the mouth of the river, in the city of Porto, on the border with the sea. Methodologically, it uses the compilation and comparative analysis of maps and aerial photographs of this territory, over a period of 232 years, to then test the drawing of new representation strategies.

It is argued that drawing is a way of understanding reality, and the representation of invisible phenomena interferes with decisions that lead to change. Put simply: “If you want to change the world, start with maps”, as Nikolas Schiller says.

Examples of invisible phenomena include movement, transparency, reflection, paths, currents and winds, which are crucial to the formation of these territories. In this article, we question the use of lines as a graphic code to represent the dynamic separation between land and water, exploring alternative methods of representing and other forms of visual expression.