Depends on the map, time, culture, and location depicted. Often they are just decorative but sometimes, especially when depicted in streams, near coastlines, and in bays/harbors they denote nonvisible underwater obstacles that could harm your ship. They can also denote particularly harsh waters and ship graveyards.
so why do they put sea monsters?
Depends on the map, time, culture, and location depicted. Often they are just decorative but sometimes, especially when depicted in streams, near coastlines, and in bays/harbors they denote nonvisible underwater obstacles that could harm your ship. They can also denote particularly harsh waters and ship graveyards.