def plotMap():

    proj = ccrs.Mercator(central_longitude=180, min_latitude=15,
    max_latitude=55)

    fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw=dict(projection=proj), figsize=(12,12))

    ax.set_extent([255 ,115, 0, 60], crs=ccrs.PlateCarree())

    ax.add_feature(cfeature.LAND, facecolor='0.3')
    ax.add_feature(cfeature.LAKES, alpha=0.9)
    ax.add_feature(cfeature.BORDERS, zorder=10)
    ax.add_feature(cfeature.COASTLINE, zorder=10)


    #(http://www.naturalearthdata.com/features/)
    states_provinces = cfeature.NaturalEarthFeature(
            category='cultural',  name='admin_1_states_provinces_lines',
            scale='50m', facecolor='none')
    ax.add_feature(states_provinces, edgecolor='black', zorder=10)

    #ax.gridlines(xlocs=grids_ma, ylocs=np.arange(-80,90,20), zorder=21,
    draw_labels=True )
    ax.gridlines(crs=ccrs.PlateCarree(), linewidth=2, color='black',
    draw_labels=True, alpha=0.5, linestyle='--')
    ax.xlabels_top = False
    ax.ylabels_left = False
    ax.ylabels_right=True
    ax.xlines = True
    ax.xlocator = mticker.FixedLocator([-160, -140, -120, 120, 140, 160, 180,])
    ax.xformatter = LONGITUDE_FORMATTER
    ax.yformatter = LATITUDE_FORMATTER
    ax.xlabel_style = {'size': 15, 'color': 'gray'}
    ax.xlabel_style = {'color': 'red', 'weight': 'bold'}


    return fig, ax