The flat Earth belief stands as one of the oldest views of the shape of the Earth. It wasn't until the 19th century that it was labeled a "theory," a move intended to lessen its acceptance among the scientific and exploratory communities.
The belief in a flat Earth persisted throughout the 18th century, despite the increasing acceptance of the spherical Earth model among philosophers and the scientific community. Notably, the explorer and cartographer Philippe Buache remained a steadfast proponent of the flat Earth concept.
Philippe Buache, (Feb. 7, 1700 — Jan. 27, 1773; France), was a late 18th century French cartographer and map publisher who was the foremost theoretical geographer of his generation.
Buache’s mentor was the proliferate cartographer Guillaume Delisle, who later became his father-in-law. In 1729 Buache became the first royal geographer of King Louis XV and was elected to the Academy of Sciences in 1730.
Buache's created this captivating and pioneering map, Physical Planisphere Map of the Earth, depicting major mountain systems of the continents and how they connect and relate to the submarine mountain ranges.
The map, presented in a polar projection, illustrates Buache's theory, which laid the foundation for the modern concept of watersheds. It depicts a vast western sea and a partial Northwest Passage in North America. In 1752, Philippe Buache, a distinguished geographer and member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, introduced a seminal paper to the academy that proposed a groundbreaking theory in physical geography. This paper, titled Essai de Géographie Physique, posited that the Earth's structure comprised extensive mountain ranges interconnected beneath the oceans, forming vast river basins that directed water flow towards the oceans. Accompanying the article were two significant maps, pivotal in the annals of cartography.
Discover Buache's stunning Physical Planisphere Map of the Flat Earth, meticulously remastered and digitally restored by ADVENTURE iDIAZ.
The following is a loose translation from French to English:
LEFT COLUMN TEXT:
This Planisphere is the result of the Physical views reported in the Memoirs of the Académie Des Sciences of 1752. Various additions have been made here, for the rendering of a more general utility and to give rise to their application to the study of geography. For of all the ways of considering the Earth, the first must be that which examines its Natural or Physical State. Now we see in this Plan that independently of the Antarctic Lands which are not known to us, it is divided by the mountain ranges (expressed by a white line) into four parts inclined towards each of the four Seas; and that these Seas are naturally shared by the Marine Chains, which continue under water, and the Isles are the summits. This second species of Mountains, which has been indicated by a series of hatchings across the Seas, makes the connection back to the Continents.
This Plan also gives the methodological division of the Rivers, who go to each part of these seas, from the Chains of Mountains, of which the highest Terrains who are like the keys, are here called the Plateau.
TOP CENTER TEXT:
PLANISPHERE where we see from the North Pole.
PHYSICAL what we know about Lands and Seas.
With the Great Mountain Ranges, which, crossing the Globe, naturally divide the Lands either into High elevated Parts or in land Rivers inclined towards each Sea, and divide the Seas by a series of Marine Mountains indicated by the Isles, Rocks or Watchmen.
CIRCULAR TEXT AROUND MAP:
Antarctic Lands that limit the Great Sea.
The Ocean Antarctic Lands that limit The Indian Sea.
Antarctic Lands that must complete The Ocean
Globe experts would say that a 6 foot tall person, (or a person who is 72 inches tall), can only see three miles across the horizon before the earth curves out of view. (See Mile 3 above).
LEFT COLUMN TEXT:
The point of view of the EARTH which presents itself here from the North Pole extends regularly to the Equator; but the Lower Hemisphere is only seen by a development supposes where care has been taken not to disfigure the earths. This is why we did not believe that we absolutely had to follow the Geometric ways in this respect. The Road which leads our acquaintances to the Antarctic Pole has not been made entirely by any Navigator; and it is only the result of the different parts of Routes made by the most famous seamen who have advanced the most from this side. It will be recognized by Etoilas (meaning: scatter, markings placed on the perimeter) that indicate each part of these Routes, with the name of the Navigators and the years.
The considerable Ice that many have found there, prove that there is in the Antarctic Lands, a series of high Mountains and great Rivers with an inland Sea, from which come the Ice, in a certain proportion with what is known on the side of the Arctic Pole.
This Physical Map of the Earth. Drawn by Phil Buache and public with approval. On and under the Privilege of the Academy of Sciences, is found with its details and the Analytical Tables relating to it, in Paris, on the Quay de l'Horloge du Palais, where we distribute the Geographical Works of Guill. Day. (1766)
The video below from the Flat Water Flat Earth Youtube channel offers a visual walk-through of Buache's map of the flat Earth:
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