#!/usr/bin/env python

from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

# set up orthographic map projection with
# perspective of satellite looking down at 50N, 100W.
# use low resolution coastlines.
# don't plot features that are smaller than 1000 square km.
map = Basemap(projection='ortho',lat_0=50,lon_0=-100, resolution='l',area_thresh=1000.)

# draw coastlines, country boundaries, fill continents.
map.bluemarble()
#map.drawcoastlines()
#map.drawcountries()
#map.fillcontinents(color='coral')


# draw the edge of the map projection region (the projection limb)
map.drawmapboundary()
# draw lat/lon grid lines every 30 degrees.
map.drawmeridians(np.arange(0,360,30))
map.drawparallels(np.arange(-90,90,30))



# lat/lon coordinates of five cities.
lats=[40.02,32.73,38.55,48.25,17.29]
lons=[-105.16,-117.16,-77.00,-114.21,-88.10]
cities=['Boulder, CO','San Diego, CA', 'Washington, DC','Whitefish, MT','Belize City, Belize']

# compute the native map projection coordinates for cities.
x,y = map(lons,lats)
# plot filled circles at the locations of the cities.
map.plot(x,y,'bo')
# plot the names of those five cities.
for name,xpt,ypt in zip(cities,x,y):
    plt.text(xpt+50000,ypt+50000,name)

plt.show()