Let's Analyze the Map of Skyrim!

[Knight]

Alright, I just saw the translated map of Skyrim (new link), and I thought we could combine our mental capabilities and analyze the thing!

So, first off, the red crosses on the map. At first I thought that they're the Daedric Shrines, but it's impossible, because there's way too many of them. Maybe they are those "Guardian Stones" that we saw in the demo? Some facts suggest otherwise, though. Some of the red crosses are really close to each other, and in the Falkreatheim region, one cross can be seen in a lake! If you use the map to find out where Todd was playing in the Skyrim demo, though, it looks like the crosses could be the Guardian Stones after all.

Next, the dashed lines. They form 9 closed areas, which I believe are the counties. Now, if this is correct, then the islands on the coast do not belong to any county. Can we still go to them? I hope so.

I'm going to talk about the locations next. Please remember that this map is translated from Russian, so it's probably not 100% correct. Anyways, some of the counties have quite strange names. Examples of these are "The Reach", "The Pale" and "The Rift".

Riverwood can be seen on this map, and apparently it's located right next to the Throat of the World. I find this weird, because as far as I know, Riverwood is the "starter town", like Seyda Neen was. This might be just a rumour, though.

So, what are your thoughts on the points that I brought up? Did you notice anything else? Please reply. I'm probably going to edit this message later, when I've studied the map more.

Here's the picture, by the way: (Updated one!)

Spoiler:

And a brand new one , without the seams and creases! Thank you Norroen for both of these maps.

Spoiler:

[Argonanza]

Examples of these are "The Reach", "The Pale" and "The Rift".

Those are the correct names.

[Mucro]

First of all, I'd like to say thanks for my new desktop background.

And also, we're given the date of Skyrim in the signature. The name is very similar to the one on the Oblivion map, but the surnames differ. I'll come back later with a proper answer.

[Norroen Dyrd]

The Russian map comes from a reliable source - maps like that were handed out by Bethesda and 1C SoftClub (the company which is the official distributor of the Elder Scrolls and other Bethesda games in Russia) at the IgroMir (GameWorld) international gaming expo in Moscow (Russia), where Bethesda had a separate stand.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

A user by the nickname of Mehrunes Artem generously shared a scan he made of his map copy via the ElderScrolls.net website. The map is a constituent part of the Russian Skyrim Collector's Edition.
Russian map.

According to the Lore, Skyrim is divided into nine Holds. The Reach, the Pale Shore (or the Pale) and the Rift are already present in the Skyrim lore, making them the names I was absolutely sure about while translating. Eastmarch and Winterhold are another two known holds, which are already present in the Wiki.

Also, I have revamped some toponyms, after checking with the Wiki and a screencap from a video with Todd Howard which shows a map of Skyrim.
My translation of the map.

[Argonanza]

And also, we're given the date of Skyrim in the signature.

The date of Skyrim is 4E 201. The map's a bit old, that's all.

[Knight]

Oh, the map is by you, Norroen? I thank you for the awesome work, then!

Also, I wasn't aware that the names are canon. They still sound strange, though. I truly wonder how they got their names.

[legoless]

The cartographer's name should be "Natalia Dravarol", same as Oblivion.

Riverwood can be seen on this map, and apparently it's located right next to the Throat of the World. I find this weird, because as far as I know, Riverwood is the "starter town", like Seyda Neen was. This might be just a rumour, though.

Riverwood is the town that's been seen in most screenshots and demos. It only gets colder as you ascend Hrothgar. Watch the official gameplay videos.

[Norroen Dyrd]

Oh, the map is by you, Norroen? I thank you for the awesome work, then!

I translated the place names from a scanned image, which was generously shared by a user Mehrunes Artem, a member of the ElderScrolls.net community, who received a copy of the map at the Russian Interactive Entertainment Convention Igromir ( translated from Russian as "GameWorld").
Using the Wiki and the Todd Howard video screencap as a guide, I erased all the Russian names in the map in Adobe Photoshop Elements and substituted them for the lore-accurate English ones. I can't deny, however, that some minor names are given roughly, given the differences between the two languages and the loss that occurs during the transition from English into Russian and back. The majority of names are precise, though who knows what Bethesda might cook up at the last minute's notice.

As for my personal analysis, I noticed that Skyrim is mostly separated from the other provinces by mountainous areas, with narrow passes serving as connections, so the enclosed in-game world is going to make much more sense than in Oblivion, where you were just running through a field and a message just popped up about your not being able to go further.

I've also noticed that Markarth Side has somewhat shifted its position, if compared to the earlier lore.

@ Legoless:

As I said before, and as I will say now again, the two last letters in the cartographer's name have been merged into one due to a fold in the map, making it look like one letter "и", which is Russian for "i". Here is the scan of the map that I was given for my translation.
I did not realize it had to be the same cartographer as in Oblivion. A terrible blunder, huh?
It all doesn't matter anyway, because this is temporary map. I am sure that the proper, correct map will be available shorter, with all the names and surnames spelled as they should be spelled.

[Knight]

The cartographer's name should be "Natalia Dravarol", same as Oblivion.

Riverwood can be seen on this map, and apparently it's located right next to the Throat of the World. I find this weird, because as far as I know, Riverwood is the "starter town", like Seyda Neen was. This might be just a rumour, though.

Riverwood is the town that's been seen in most screenshots and demos. It only gets colder as you ascend Hrothgar. Watch the official gameplay videos.

Yeah, I know what Riverwood is like. I just pointed out that it's right next to the Throat of the World.

[Norroen Dyrd]

The cartographer's name should be "Natalia Dravarol", same as Oblivion.

Riverwood can be seen on this map, and apparently it's located right next to the Throat of the World. I find this weird, because as far as I know, Riverwood is the "starter town", like Seyda Neen was. This might be just a rumour, though.

Riverwood is the town that's been seen in most screenshots and demos. It only gets colder as you ascend Hrothgar. Watch the official gameplay videos.

Yeah, I know what Riverwood is like. I just pointed out that it's right next to the Throat of the World.

I also noticed that, but we don't yet know all the plot details. Maybe it's supposed to be this way: you start out in Riverwood, receive your lore from the Greybeards, and set off - you might also come back to High Hrothgar for an epic last battle or something.

[Senipul]

I thought that Riverwood is the starting place only for those who play the demo.
I also remember a conversation with Alvor (leaked video material) in which the player states that he/she had escaped from Helgen with another fellow (who sent the prisoner to Riverwood).

[Eltee]

Look at the the markings north of Solitude and west of Windhelm! Are those the front lines for the civil war?

[Knight]

Hopefully not! The other faction wouldn't stand a chance, haha.

I think they're steep banks or something like that. Ugh, getting up from the coast will be a pain.

[MathiasFlynnias]

I am almost certain the red marks are Shrines, but not Daedric [or possibly]. The one next to Riverwood is approximately right on the Talos Shrine and the spacing and locations of others seem to indicate something of that nature.

I highly doubt they are guardian stones just because of the sheer amount of them and there are only 13 guardian stones with 3 together as confirmed with others most likely clumped together as well.

And the cartographer surely should not be the same, considering it is around 200 years after the others were made, otherwise that cartographer has a very long life span.

[Eltee]

Well, 'Dravari' does sound vaguely Dunmeri, so it's plausible.

[777]

Throat of the world looks taller than Mt. Everest I see epic mountain climbing in the future

[Soach]

Throat of the world looks taller than Mt. Everest I see epic mountain climbing in the future

You climb up 2000 stairs.

[777]

Throat of the world looks taller than Mt. Everest I see epic mountain climbing in the future

You climb up 2000 stairs.

Nevermind than, that's not much at all

[Norroen Dyrd]

Well, 'Dravari' does sound vaguely Dunmeri, so it's plausible.

It's Dravarol. "Dravari" was a typo on my part. I spelled it this way because of a crease in the map - I saw the two letters in the end of the surname as one. I saw the letter as "i" and wrote it this way.
I did not consider drawing a parallel with Oblivion because I did not give it much importance during the process of translating - I was too preoccupied with looking for equivalents for city names and such, especially those which are not present in the lore.
Here is the link to the Russian version of the map: link
Take note that there is a seam that passes right over the cartographer's surname.

[Eltee]

Dravarol still sounds Elven.

[MathiasFlynnias]

Throat of the world looks taller than Mt. Everest I see epic mountain climbing in the future

You climb up 2000 stairs.

Is it not 7000?

[Norroen Dyrd]

Dravarol still sounds Elven.

To a Russian ear, Dravari sounds more melodious.
Dravarol looks more like a name of a medicine.

[Rat Kiosk]

As for my personal analysis, I noticed that Skyrim is mostly separated from the other provinces by mountainous areas, with narrow passes serving as connections, so the enclosed in-game world is going to make much more sense than in Oblivion, where you were just running through a field and a message just popped up about your not being able to go further.

Well on the oblivion map there are no roads going to any other provinces.

[Eltee]

I agree. Dravari actually might make a good surname for a Dunmeri character... *takes note* But Dravarol certainly sounds like it's more likely to be Dunmeri that ay other race.

[Rat Kiosk]

So, first off, the red crosses on the map. At first I thought that they're the Daedric Shrines, but it's impossible, because there's way too many of them. Maybe they are those "Guardian Stones" that we saw in the demo? Some facts suggest otherwise, though. Some of the red crosses are really close to each other, and in the Falkreatheim region, one cross can be seen in a lake! If you use the map to find out where Todd was playing in the Skyrim demo, though, it looks like the crosses could be the Guardian Stones after all.



]

I don't think there is one in that lake, its not a cross like the others. Looks kinda chest shaped.