Editing Nautical chart (section)

== Electronic and paper charts ==
[[File:US NOAA nautical chart of Bering Strait.png|thumb|Portion of an electronic chart of the [[Bering Strait]]]]

Conventional nautical charts are printed on large sheets of paper at a variety of [[scale (map)|scale]]s. Mariners will generally carry many charts to provide sufficient detail for the areas they might need to visit. [[Electronic navigational chart]]s, which use computer software and electronic databases to provide navigation information, can augment or in some cases replace paper charts, though many mariners carry paper charts as a backup in case the electronic charting system fails.