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

#setup the projection
m = Basemap(projection='merc',llcrnrlat=20,urcrnrlat=50,\
                llcrnrlon=-130,urcrnrlon=-60,lat_ts=20,resolution='i')

#create some points to plot
#provided is a csv file with the lat/long of US states
import pandas as pd
from pandas import DataFrame
data=pd.read_csv('DataFiles\usa_lat_long.csv') #it has some duplicates
data.head()


#I just want the lat/long in a list
points=data[['longitude','latitude']].values

#transform the points into map coordinates
transform_points=[m(lng, lat) for lng, lat in points]


#do all the drawing:

fig=figure(figsize=(10,10)) #make a larger than default image
fig.add_subplot(1,1,1) #not strictly required

m.drawmapboundary(fill_color='white')
m.fillcontinents(color='white',lake_color='white')
m.drawcoastlines(color='black', linewidth=.3)
m.drawcountries(color='black', linewidth=.3)
m.drawstates(color='black', linewidth=.3)

#plot the points on the  map. These are just regular calls to matplotlib with x,y data
#you could also do this in one shot by using plot(xlist, ylist...)
#or using scatter(). 
for x,y in transform_points:
    plot(x,y,'o',color='red',ms=10*rand()) #plot them at random sizes

#we can plot some labels
text(transform_points[7][0],transform_points[7][1],'California',fontsize=15)
text(transform_points[12][0],transform_points[12][1],'Florida',fontsize=15)

#draw some great circles
lng1,lat1 =points[12]
lng2,lat2 =points[7]
m.drawgreatcircle(lng1,lat1,lng2,lat2,linewidth=3,color='blue',alpha=.5)