The Many Lives of Null Island

Null Island, located at the coordinates of 0º latitude and 0º longitude in the Atlantic Ocean, serves as a humorous yet significant concept in cartography. It is not a real island but a phenomenon that highlights common data errors in geographic information systems (GIS). When datasets are improperly configured, they often default to these coordinates, resulting in data points appearing on Null Island. This issue is frequently encountered by cartographers and data analysts, leading to the creation of a whimsical mythology surrounding the imaginary island.

The history of Null Island includes various interpretations and representations, with its shape originally inspired by the game Myst. Over the years, it has been featured in different basemaps, including those created by Stamen, which recently underwent a complete redesign. During this process, the team faced challenges in maintaining the charm of the original maps while updating the technology. A notable aspect of this redesign was the inclusion of Null Island, which has become a symbol of data glitches.

The size of Null Island has also been a topic of discussion, with different versions existing in various datasets. The original shape was about 100 meters across, while a newer GeoJSON version expanded it to nearly 10 kilometers. This discrepancy arose from a mix of humor and error in data representation, further solidifying Null Island's place in the cartographic community as a lighthearted reminder of the complexities of mapping and data accuracy.