Explore the real-world places that appear in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Port of Reykjavik, Iceland, The Abraham Lincoln Frigate, The Nautilus Submarine, Vigo Bay, Spain, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa and 10 more.
Harbor — Professor Aronnax arrives searching for the sea monster
Professor Pierre Aronnax and his assistant Conseil arrive in Iceland to investigate the mysterious sea creature that has been attacking ships. Aronnax coordinates with military authorities and fellow scientists to prepare an expedition. The harbor serves as the launching point for Aronnax's fateful voyage aboard the Abraham Lincoln frigate, which will change the course of his life forever.
Reykjavik became Iceland's capital in 1786 and grew as a trading port throughout the 19th century. During Verne's era, it was a remote outpost of European exploration and scientific interest, making it a fitting starting point for extraordinary adventures.
Reykjavik is now Iceland's vibrant capital and largest city, with a modern harbor, museums, and geothermal infrastructure. The Old Harbor area remains a working port and popular tourist destination with seafood restaurants and maritime tours.
Visit: Reykjavik Old Harbor (landmark)
Atlantic Ocean — Chase and collision with the Nautilus
The American frigate Abraham Lincoln pursues the mysterious sea creature across the Atlantic. Aronnax stands on deck with Ned Land, the harpooner, and Conseil as they track the luminescent object through the night. When the creature turns out to be the ironclad submarine Nautilus, a dramatic collision occurs. Aronnax, Conseil, and Ned Land fall overboard and are rescued by Captain Nemo, their fate sealed.
The USS Abraham Lincoln was a real Union Navy sloop that served during the American Civil War era. Verne used this authentic military vessel to lend credibility to his science fiction narrative.
No remains exist, but the waters of the North Atlantic where this fictional encounter occurs remain heavily trafficked shipping lanes and research areas for modern oceanography.
Underwater vessel — Captain Nemo's iron ship and mobile prison
The Nautilus is Captain Nemo's revolutionary submarine, where Aronnax spends ten months as Nemo's prisoner and guest. The vessel features a luxurious salon with electric lighting, a library, an organ, and state-of-the-art scientific equipment. Nemo commands this iron behemoth through underwater passages and along the ocean floor, taking his captives on a tour of Earth's oceanic secrets. The submarine becomes both a marvel of engineering and a floating tomb of mysteries.
The Nautilus represents Verne's prescient vision of submarine technology. Though submarines existed in primitive form, Verne's detailed design anticipated modern submarines by decades, including electric power, pressurization, and weaponization.
The Nautilus exists only as a fictional creation, but real submarines have evolved along lines Verne imagined. Museums and exhibitions worldwide celebrate Verne's influence on submarine design and exploration.
Northwest Spain coast — First underwater journey past sunken galleons
As the Nautilus travels south along the Iberian coast, Nemo takes Aronnax and Conseil on an underwater walk through Vigo Bay. They observe the remnants of Spanish galleons sunk during naval battles, their hulls encrusted with centuries of marine life. Aronnax marvels at the preserved artifacts and treasures on the ocean floor, realizing the historical wealth hidden beneath the waves. This journey awakens his scientific curiosity about the ocean's hidden secrets.
Vigo Bay was the site of several naval battles during the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714), where Spanish treasure fleets were sunk. The bay has been a significant port since Roman times and remains strategically important.
Vigo is now a major fishing port and industrial city in Galicia. The bay is active with modern maritime traffic, though some historical artifacts and wrecks remain on the sea floor. Modern scuba diving tours sometimes explore selected wreck sites.
Visit: Vigo Port & Maritime Museum (museum)
Southern tip of Africa — Dangerous waters and wildlife encounters
The Nautilus rounds the treacherous Cape, one of the world's most dangerous passages. Aronnax witnesses massive underwater volcanic formations and encounters schools of strange fish and marine creatures. Nemo explains the geological significance of the cape, pointing out underwater valleys and ridges. The journey underscores the Nautilus's superiority over surface vessels, as it navigates the depths while storms rage above.
The Cape of Good Hope has been one of the world's most perilous maritime passages for centuries, responsible for countless shipwrecks. Portuguese explorers first rounded it in 1488, opening sea routes to Asia. It remained the primary passage until the Suez Canal opened in 1869.
Cape Point, part of Table Mountain National Park, is a major tourist destination with hiking trails, viewpoints, and visitor facilities. The waters remain busy shipping lanes, though modern navigation technology has made passage safer.
Visit: Cape Point National Park (park)
Deep ocean basin — Underwater forests and coral kingdoms
The Nautilus enters the Indian Ocean where Aronnax and Conseil witness extraordinary underwater ecosystems including vast kelp forests and coral gardens teeming with colorful fish. Nemo demonstrates the submarine's hunting capabilities, using electricity and advanced weapons to capture specimens for his collection. Aronnax observes whales, giant squids, and other magnificent creatures, filling him with wonder at the ocean's abundance. This segment represents the peak of Aronnax's fascination with Nemo's world.
The Indian Ocean is the world's third-largest ocean, known since ancient times as a critical trade route between Africa, Asia, and Europe. European exploration of the Indian Ocean intensified in the 15th-19th centuries.
The Indian Ocean remains vital to global commerce and is extensively studied by oceanographers. It supports millions of people through fishing and shipping, though it faces challenges from climate change and pollution.
Fictional island — Site of underwater pearl diving expedition
The Nautilus enters the Red Sea where Nemo orchestrates an elaborate underwater pearl-diving expedition. Aronnax, Conseil, and Ned Land don diving suits and descend to the ocean floor. They encounter a giant pearl and a massive clam, and witness a tragic encounter with a shark. The scene demonstrates both the beauty and danger of the ocean, and marks a turning point in Ned Land's determination to escape, fearing Nemo's domination.
The Red Sea has been a crucial maritime trade route for millennia, connecting the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. Pearl diving was a major industry throughout the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean regions during the 19th century.
The Red Sea remains an important shipping lane and is now a popular destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. Modern coral reefs and marine life attract thousands of visitors annually, though overfishing and climate change threaten ecosystems.
Visit: Red Sea Diving Sites (tour)
Strategic waterway — Encounter with pirate ships and naval warfare
As the Nautilus approaches the Arabian coast, Nemo mentions that pirate ships operate in these waters. The captain's mysterious vendetta becomes apparent as he prepares weapons and discusses his war against injustice. Aronnax senses Nemo's darker purpose—using his submarine not just for science but for warfare and vengeance. The gulf represents the transition point where Aronnax begins questioning whether his host is truly a noble scientist or a dangerous revolutionary.
The Gulf of Aden has been a critical maritime crossroads since ancient times, controlling trade between the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean. It has experienced piracy and naval conflicts throughout history.
The Gulf of Aden remains strategically important and faces modern piracy challenges. Major shipping lanes pass through these waters, making it one of the world's busiest maritime corridors.
Dangerous passage between Australia and Papua New Guinea
The Nautilus navigates the treacherous Torres Strait, demonstrating Nemo's superior navigation skills and the submarine's agility. Coral reefs and shallow waters that would strand any surface vessel are easily traversed by the underwater ship. Aronnax marvels at indigenous populations and unique wildlife on nearby islands, observed safely from the submarine's portholes. The passage showcases Nemo's intimate knowledge of Earth's most remote and dangerous waterways.
Torres Strait was first navigated by European explorers in the 16th-17th centuries. It remains one of the world's most challenging maritime passages, filled with coral reefs, strong currents, and unpredictable weather.
Torres Strait is still a major shipping route and requires expert navigation. It is now studied extensively by oceanographers and remains home to indigenous Australian and Melanesian populations.
Visit: Thursday Island Heritage Museum (museum)
Remote tropical region — Encounter with indigenous peoples and exotic wildlife
Near Papua New Guinea, Aronnax observes the indigenous inhabitants through the submarine's windows. Nemo takes the crew ashore on a brief expedition where they collect specimens and observe native cultures. Ned Land plots his escape during this shore excursion, seeing it as his best opportunity to flee to civilization. The encounter emphasizes both the scientific value of Nemo's voyage and the isolation it imposes on those aboard the Nautilus.
Papua New Guinea remained largely isolated from European contact until the 19th century. Indigenous populations developed complex societies and unique cultures in the dense tropical environment, largely unknown to the outside world during Verne's era.
Papua New Guinea is an independent nation with diverse indigenous populations still living in remote areas. The region is known for its biodiversity, tribal cultures, and challenging terrain.
Visit: PNG National Museum & Art Gallery (museum)
Major Asian port — News of the Nautilus spreads; civilization seems distant
Through the submarine's newspapers and communications, Aronnax learns that Manila and other ports are discussing the mysterious sea monster. The civilized world believes the Nautilus is a fearsome destroyer, unaware it is a scientific marvel. Aronnax realizes that months have passed and he is now a ghost, presumed dead by the world. Manila represents the boundary between civilization and the secret underwater world Nemo has created, a world from which there is no return.
Manila has been a major Asian port since Spanish colonial times, founded in 1571. By the 19th century, it was one of the busiest trading hubs in the Pacific, connecting Asia to Europe and the Americas.
Manila is the capital of the Philippines and one of Asia's largest cities. The historic Intramuros district preserves Spanish colonial architecture, and the port remains vital to Philippine commerce.
Visit: Intramuros Historic District (historic site)
South Pacific — Paradise discovered, but Aronnax is a captive
The Nautilus traverses pristine Polynesian waters where Aronnax sees magnificent coral reefs, lagoons, and islands of breathtaking beauty. Nemo takes the crew on underwater walks to collect specimens, and Aronnax documents extraordinary marine life previously unknown to science. Despite the natural splendor, Aronnax becomes increasingly melancholic, recognizing that this paradise is also a prison. Nemo's isolation becomes more oppressive as the voyage continues.
Polynesia was explored and settled by Pacific Islanders centuries before European contact. European explorers in the 18th-19th centuries encountered thriving island civilizations, though colonization would soon follow.
Polynesian islands are now popular tourist destinations, with many independent or associated nations. The coral ecosystems face threats from climate change and rising sea levels.
Visit: Coral Reef Marine Parks (various islands) (park)
Remote South Pacific island — Mysterious moai statues observed
The Nautilus approaches Easter Island where Aronnax observes the famous moai statues from underwater perspectives and brief shore visits. Nemo explains the island's mysterious history and his theories about ancient civilizations. Ned Land sees the island as an opportunity for escape, and tensions aboard the submarine heighten. The isolated island symbolizes both the scientific wonder of the world and Aronnax's increasing desperation to return home.
Easter Island was settled by Polynesian voyagers around 1000 CE and developed a unique culture that created the famous moai statues between 1250-1500 CE. European contact in 1722 led to the island's decline and eventual Chilean annexation.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Chilean territory. It is one of the world's most remote inhabited islands, attracting thousands of tourists annually to see the restored moai and learn about Polynesian culture.
Visit: Rapa Nui National Park (historic site)
Earth's southernmost ocean — Ice, whales, and the limits of exploration
The Nautilus ventures into Antarctic waters where Aronnax witnesses vast ice shelves, massive whales, and the Earth's most extreme environment. Nemo demonstrates his submarine's ability to navigate beneath pack ice and surface through it to access air. Aronnax is awed by the pristine wilderness, but the desolate landscape reflects his emotional state—he is utterly isolated from human civilization. This journey to the world's most remote region marks the climax of his captivity.
Antarctica was largely unknown until 19th-century exploration. The continent was first reached by various expeditions in the early 1800s, and became a focus of scientific interest during Verne's lifetime.
Antarctica is protected by international treaty and devoted to scientific research. Tourist expeditions visit the continent seasonally, and it remains one of Earth's most pristine and least disturbed environments.
Visit: Antarctic Expedition Tours (tour)
Treacherous waters off Norway — Final voyage and mysterious disappearance
The Nautilus's final known location is near the Norwegian coast, approaching the legendary Maelstrom. Ned Land and Aronnax launch the lifeboat in a desperate escape attempt as the submarine is caught in the maelstrom's violent currents. Aronnax is swept away from the Nautilus and washes ashore, rescued by fishermen. He never learns Nemo's fate or whether the Nautilus survived. The maelstrom remains an eternal mystery—a fitting end for Nemo and his extraordinary vessel.
The Maelstrom is a real tidal phenomenon in the waters between Norwegian islands, created by the rush of tidal currents through narrow channels. It has terrified sailors for centuries and inspired numerous legends and literature.
The Maelstrom remains a geographical reality, though modern navigation systems and knowledge have reduced its danger. It is a tourist attraction and subject of ongoing oceanographic study.
Visit: Lofoten Islands & Maelstrom Tours (tour)
More by Jules Verne: Around the World in Eighty Days locations map · All Jules Verne books