Visitors entering the front doors of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo can now see Bermuda in greater detail than ever before.

On Monday, BAMZ became home to a new geographically correct three-and-a-half by eight-and-a-half feet photo mosaic of the Island and its surrounding marine platform.

"The map is so detailed that virtually everyone on the Island will be able to pinpoint their home," said Jack Ward, BAMZ principal curator. Mr.. Ward explained why the map was created, saying: "In 1997, as part of the Bermuda Biodiversity Project, the Bermuda Zoological Society partnered with the Ministry of Works and Engineering and the Bermuda Land Development Company to commission an aerial photographic survey.

"Over 100 photos were taken along a crisscrossing network of flight paths at a height of 15,000 feet of the entire Island and surrounding marine platform. With generous support from Chevron International, these digital photographs were then pieced together to produce the resulting high-quality photographic mosaic."

Piecing the photos together to form a single, image meant using a sophisticated flight management system that records altitude, inclination and position during filming.

This new view of the Island will allow accurate mapping of Bermuda's major marine habitat, as well as support the production of updated bathymetric charts of the platform, out to the 20-metre depth contour. The image displayed at BAMZ has been cropped to show just the Island and inland bodies of water.

Mr. Ward said: "It's hard to believe but the current admiralty charts used by mariners date back to 1887.

"Production of this digital photo mosaic marks a significant step forward in our ability to manage biological information concerning Bermuda's delicate marine ecosystem. The map, therefore, helps support informed decision-making to protect our natural resources."

The map is serving another purpose at BAMZ, covering a wall erected where a tank has been removed to accommodate construction of a new three-storey Education and Administration wing directly behind the aquarium. The map will find a permanent home in BAMZ's natural history museum.

BAMZ, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in Flatts this year, is dedicated to inspiring appreciation and care of Island environments.