from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# setup Lambert Conformal basemap.
# set resolution=None to skip processing of boundary datasets.
m = Basemap(width=12000000,height=9000000,projection='lcc',
            resolution=None,lat_1=45.,lat_2=55,lat_0=50,lon_0=-107.)
# draw a land-sea mask for a map background.
# lakes=True means plot inland lakes with ocean color.
m.drawlsmask(land_color='coral',ocean_color='aqua',lakes=True)
plt.show()