R Inset Map – How to Create Inset Maps Using R

Question

I need to create a map of my sampling site, and the journal requested to make an inset map showing where in the world this map is, this is my map code.

library(maps)
library(GISTools)  

map('state', fill = FALSE, xlim = c(-125, -114), ylim = c(32.2, 42.5), xlab = "lon", ylab = "lat")
map.axes(cex.axis=0.8)

points(-121.6945, 39.36708, bg = "black", pch = 21)

maps::map.scale(x=-124, y=34, ratio=FALSE, relwidth=0.3)
north.arrow(xb=-116, yb=41, len=0.22, lab="N") 

I have tried to find a way to make the inset map but no luck so far.

Answer 1

I leave a ggplot version. You need to write more codes. But, if you like manipulating your maps with more details, I would say give it a shot. I used GADM data to draw the main map; I downloaded the file with getData() in the raster package. Then, I used fortify() in order to generate a data frame for ggplot. Then, I drew the main map. Using scale_x_continuous() and scale_y_continuous(), you can clip the map. The ggsn package allows you to add the arrow and scale bar. Note that you need to specify where you want them. For the inset map, you can use a smaller data to draw the States. So I used map_data("state"). I drew a map and wrapped it with ggplotGrob(). You need to create a grob object to create an inset map later. Finally, you use annotation_custom() and add the inset map to the main map.

library(raster)
library(ggplot2)
library(ggthemes)
library(ggsn)


mapdata <- getData("GADM", country = "usa", level = 1)
mymap <- fortify(mapdata)

mypoint <- data.frame(long = -121.6945, lat = 39.36708)

g1 <- ggplot() +
      geom_blank(data = mymap, aes(x=long, y=lat)) +
      geom_map(data = mymap, map = mymap, 
               aes(group = group, map_id = id),
               fill = "#b2b2b2", color = "black", size = 0.3) +
      geom_point(data = mypoint, aes(x = long, y = lat),
                 color = "black", size = 2) +
      scale_x_continuous(limits = c(-125, -114), expand = c(0, 0)) +
      scale_y_continuous(limits = c(32.2, 42.5), expand = c(0, 0)) +
      theme_map() +
      scalebar(location = "bottomleft", dist = 200,
               dd2km = TRUE, model = 'WGS84',           
               x.min = -124.5, x.max = -114,
               y.min = 33.2, y.max = 42.5) +
      north(x.min = -115.5, x.max = -114,
            y.min = 40.5, y.max = 41.5,
            location = "toprgiht", scale = 0.1)


foo <- map_data("state")

g2 <- ggplotGrob(
        ggplot() +
        geom_polygon(data = foo,
                     aes(x = long, y = lat, group = group),
                     fill = "#b2b2b2", color = "black", size = 0.3) +
        geom_point(data = mypoint, aes(x = long, y = lat),
                   color = "black", size = 2) +
        coord_map("polyconic") +
        theme_map() +
        theme(panel.background = element_rect(fill = NULL))
      )     

g3 <- g1 +
      annotation_custom(grob = g2, xmin = -119, xmax = -114,
                        ymin = 31.5, ymax = 36)