Antarctica, or the Southern Continent, remains one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, and accurate mapping has not been possible until recently.

This late 16th century map is a work of fiction. The exact mapmaker is not known, but the map was produced in Northern France and was probably accepted as genuine at the time. It is not difficult to see how this could happen, for the shape of the coastline is authentic looking and the place names appear realistic.

It is not known if any sailors actually attempted to use this map of a voyage in these waters, but if they had the consequences would probably have been disastrous.