diff --git a/src/index.css b/src/index.css
index 9653262e..b5180a25 100644
--- a/src/index.css
+++ b/src/index.css
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ a {
   stroke-linejoin: round;
 }
 
-t,
+/* TODO: turn on after debugging */
+/* t,
 #regions,
 #cults,
 #relig,
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ t,
 #landmass,
 #fogging {
   pointer-events: none;
-}
+} */
 
 #armies text {
   pointer-events: none;
diff --git a/src/layers/renderers/drawCultures.ts b/src/layers/renderers/drawCultures.ts
index 7090f417..aa9189ef 100644
--- a/src/layers/renderers/drawCultures.ts
+++ b/src/layers/renderers/drawCultures.ts
@@ -1,22 +1,44 @@
 import * as d3 from "d3";
 
 import {getPaths} from "./utilts";
+import {pick} from "utils/functionUtils";
 
 export function drawCultures() {
-  /* uses */ const {cells, vertices, cultures} = pack;
+  d3.select("#cults").selectAll("g").remove();
 
-  const getType = (cellId: number) => cells.culture[cellId];
-  const paths = getPaths(cells.c, cells.v, vertices, getType);
+  /* uses */ const {cells, vertices, features, cultures} = pack;
 
-  const getColor = (i: number) => i && (cultures[i] as ICulture).color;
+  const paths = getPaths({
+    getType: (cellId: number) => cells.culture[cellId],
+    cells: pick(cells, "c", "v", "b", "h", "f"),
+    vertices,
+    features
+  });
+
+  const getColor = (i: number) => (cultures[i] as ICulture).color;
 
   d3.select("#cults")
+    .append("g")
+    .attr("fill", "none")
+    .attr("stroke-width", 3)
     .selectAll("path")
     .remove()
-    .data(Object.entries(paths))
+    .data(paths)
     .enter()
     .append("path")
-    .attr("d", ([, path]) => path)
+    .attr("d", ([, path]) => path.waterGap)
+    .attr("stroke", ([i]) => getColor(Number(i)))
+    .attr("id", ([i]) => "culture-gap" + i);
+
+  d3.select("#cults")
+    .append("g")
+    .attr("stroke", "none")
+    .selectAll("path")
+    .remove()
+    .data(paths)
+    .enter()
+    .append("path")
+    .attr("d", ([, path]) => path.fill)
     .attr("fill", ([i]) => getColor(Number(i)))
     .attr("id", ([i]) => "culture" + i);
 }
diff --git a/src/layers/renderers/drawReligions.js b/src/layers/renderers/drawReligions.js
index a8df70ae..e81810b4 100644
--- a/src/layers/renderers/drawReligions.js
+++ b/src/layers/renderers/drawReligions.js
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ export function drawReligions() {
   const n = cells.i.length;
 
   const used = new Uint8Array(cells.i.length);
-  const vArray = new Array(religions.length); // store vertices array
   const body = new Array(religions.length).fill(""); // store path around each religion
   const gap = new Array(religions.length).fill(""); // store path along water for each religion to fill the gaps
 
@@ -20,8 +19,7 @@ export function drawReligions() {
     const chain = connectVertices(vertex, r, borderWith);
     if (chain.length < 3) continue;
     const points = chain.map(v => vertices.p[v[0]]);
-    if (!vArray[r]) vArray[r] = [];
-    vArray[r].push(points);
+
     body[r] += "M" + points.join("L") + "Z";
     gap[r] +=
       "M" +
diff --git a/src/layers/renderers/drawRoutes.ts b/src/layers/renderers/drawRoutes.ts
index 1518dd8d..f6362490 100644
--- a/src/layers/renderers/drawRoutes.ts
+++ b/src/layers/renderers/drawRoutes.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const lineGenTypeMap: {[key in IRoute["type"]]: d3.CurveFactory | d3.CurveFactor
 export function drawRoutes() {
   routes.selectAll("path").remove();
 
-  const {cells, burgs} = pack;
+  /* uses */ const {cells, burgs} = pack;
   const lineGen = d3.line();
 
   const SHARP_ANGLE = 135;
diff --git a/src/layers/renderers/utilts.ts b/src/layers/renderers/utilts.ts
index cf454606..7931004a 100644
--- a/src/layers/renderers/utilts.ts
+++ b/src/layers/renderers/utilts.ts
@@ -1,40 +1,99 @@
+import {MIN_LAND_HEIGHT} from "config/generation";
 import {connectVertices} from "scripts/connectVertices";
+import {isLake} from "utils/typeUtils";
 
-export function getPaths(
-  cellNeighbors: number[][],
-  cellVertices: number[][],
-  vertices: IGraphVertices,
-  getType: (cellId: number) => number
-) {
-  const paths: Dict<string> = {};
+type TPath = {fill: string; waterGap: string; halo: string};
 
-  function addPath(index: number, points: TPoints) {
-    if (!paths[index]) paths[index] = "";
-    paths[index] += "M" + points.join("L") + "Z";
-  }
+export function getPaths({
+  vertices,
+  getType,
+  features,
+  cells
+}: {
+  vertices: IGraphVertices;
+  getType: (cellId: number) => number;
+  features: TPackFeatures;
+  cells: Pick<IPack["cells"], "c" | "v" | "b" | "h" | "f">;
+}) {
+  const paths: Dict<TPath> = {};
 
-  const checkedCells = new Uint8Array(cellNeighbors.length);
-  for (let cellId = 0; cellId < cellNeighbors.length; cellId++) {
-    if (checkedCells[cellId]) continue;
-    if (!getType(cellId)) continue;
+  const checkedCells = new Uint8Array(cells.c.length);
+  const addToChecked = (cellId: number) => {
     checkedCells[cellId] = 1;
+  };
+  const isChecked = (cellId: number) => checkedCells[cellId] === 1;
+
+  for (let cellId = 0; cellId < cells.c.length; cellId++) {
+    if (isChecked(cellId) || getType(cellId) === 0) continue;
+    addToChecked(cellId);
 
     const type = getType(cellId);
     const ofSameType = (cellId: number) => getType(cellId) === type;
+    const ofDifferentType = (cellId: number) => getType(cellId) !== type;
 
-    const isOnborder = cellNeighbors[cellId].some(cellId => !ofSameType(cellId));
-    if (!isOnborder) continue;
+    const onborderCell = cells.c[cellId].find(ofDifferentType);
+    if (onborderCell === undefined) continue;
 
-    const startingVertex = cellVertices[cellId].find(v => vertices.c[v].some(cellId => !ofSameType(cellId)));
-    if (startingVertex === undefined) throw new Error(`getPath: starting vertex for cell ${cellId} is not found`);
+    const feature = features[cells.f[onborderCell]];
+    if (isInnerLake(feature, ofSameType)) continue;
 
-    const chain = connectVertices({vertices, startingVertex, ofSameType, checkedCellsMutable: checkedCells});
+    const startingVertex = cells.v[cellId].find(v => vertices.c[v].some(ofDifferentType));
+    if (startingVertex === undefined) throw new Error(`Starting vertex for cell ${cellId} is not found`);
 
-    if (chain.length < 3) continue;
-    const points = chain.map(v => vertices.p[v]);
+    const vertexChain = connectVertices({vertices, startingVertex, ofSameType, addToChecked, closeRing: true});
+    if (vertexChain.length < 3) continue;
 
-    addPath(type, points);
+    addPath(type, vertexChain);
   }
 
-  return paths;
+  return Object.entries(paths);
+
+  function getVertexPoint(vertex: number) {
+    return vertices.p[vertex];
+  }
+
+  function getFillPath(vertexChain: number[]) {
+    const points: TPoints = vertexChain.map(getVertexPoint);
+    const firstPoint = points.shift();
+    return `M${firstPoint} L${points.join(" ")} Z`;
+  }
+
+  function getBorderPath(vertexChain: number[], discontinue: (vertex: number) => boolean) {
+    let discontinued = true;
+    const path = vertexChain.map(vertex => {
+      if (discontinue(vertex)) {
+        discontinued = true;
+        return "";
+      }
+
+      const operation = discontinued ? "M" : "L";
+      discontinued = false;
+      return ` ${operation}${getVertexPoint(vertex)}`;
+    });
+
+    return path.join("").trim();
+  }
+
+  function isBorderVertex(vertex: number) {
+    const adjacentCells = vertices.c[vertex];
+    return adjacentCells.some(i => cells.b[i]);
+  }
+
+  function isLandVertex(vertex: number) {
+    const adjacentCells = vertices.c[vertex];
+    return adjacentCells.every(i => cells.h[i] >= MIN_LAND_HEIGHT);
+  }
+
+  function addPath(index: number, vertexChain: number[]) {
+    if (!paths[index]) paths[index] = {fill: "", waterGap: "", halo: ""};
+
+    paths[index].fill += getFillPath(vertexChain);
+    paths[index].halo += getBorderPath(vertexChain, isBorderVertex);
+    paths[index].waterGap += getBorderPath(vertexChain, isLandVertex);
+  }
+}
+
+function isInnerLake(feature: 0 | TPackFeature, ofSameType: (cellId: number) => boolean) {
+  if (!isLake(feature)) return false;
+  return feature.shoreline.every(ofSameType);
 }
diff --git a/src/scripts/connectVertices.ts b/src/scripts/connectVertices.ts
index cec69aba..afb8052b 100644
--- a/src/scripts/connectVertices.ts
+++ b/src/scripts/connectVertices.ts
@@ -88,38 +88,32 @@ function findStartingVertex({
   throw new Error(`Markup: firstCell of feature ${featureId} has no neighbors of other features or external vertices`);
 }
 
-const CONNECT_VERTICES_MAX_ITERATIONS = 50000;
+const MAX_ITERATIONS = 50000;
 
 // connect vertices around feature
 export function connectVertices({
   vertices,
   startingVertex,
   ofSameType,
-  checkedCellsMutable
+  addToChecked,
+  closeRing
 }: {
   vertices: IGraphVertices;
   startingVertex: number;
   ofSameType: (cellId: number) => boolean;
-  checkedCellsMutable?: Uint8Array;
+  addToChecked?: (cellId: number) => void;
+  closeRing?: boolean;
 }) {
   const chain: number[] = []; // vertices chain to form a path
 
-  const addToChecked = (cellIds: number[]) => {
-    if (checkedCellsMutable) {
-      cellIds.forEach(cellId => {
-        checkedCellsMutable[cellId] = 1;
-      });
-    }
-  };
-
   let next = startingVertex;
-  for (let i = 0; i === 0 || (next !== startingVertex && i < CONNECT_VERTICES_MAX_ITERATIONS); i++) {
+  for (let i = 0; i === 0 || (next !== startingVertex && i < MAX_ITERATIONS); i++) {
     const previous = chain.at(-1);
     const current = next;
     chain.push(current);
 
     const neibCells = vertices.c[current];
-    addToChecked(neibCells);
+    if (addToChecked) neibCells.forEach(addToChecked);
 
     const [c1, c2, c3] = neibCells.map(ofSameType);
     const [v1, v2, v3] = vertices.v[current];
@@ -134,5 +128,6 @@ export function connectVertices({
     }
   }
 
+  if (closeRing) chain.push(startingVertex);
   return chain;
 }
diff --git a/src/scripts/generation/generation.ts b/src/scripts/generation/generation.ts
index a201620a..6d776f82 100644
--- a/src/scripts/generation/generation.ts
+++ b/src/scripts/generation/generation.ts
@@ -70,8 +70,10 @@ async function generate(options?: IGenerationOptions) {
     // renderLayer("biomes");
     renderLayer("burgs");
     renderLayer("routes");
+    renderLayer("cultures");
+    //renderLayer("religions");
 
-    drawPolygons(pack.cells.religion, pack.cells.v, pack.vertices.p, {fillOpacity: 0.8, excludeZeroes: true});
+    // drawPolygons(pack.cells.religion, pack.cells.v, pack.vertices.p, {fillOpacity: 0.8, excludeZeroes: true});
 
     WARN && console.warn(`TOTAL: ${rn((performance.now() - timeStart) / 1000, 2)}s`);
     // showStatistics();
diff --git a/src/types/pack/features.d.ts b/src/types/pack/features.d.ts
index 2ae8f95a..13cd5b22 100644
--- a/src/types/pack/features.d.ts
+++ b/src/types/pack/features.d.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,6 @@ interface IPackFeatureLake extends IPackFeatureBase {
 
 type TPackFeature = IPackFeatureOcean | IPackFeatureIsland | IPackFeatureLake;
 
-type FirstElement = 0;
+type TNoFeature = 0;
 
-type TPackFeatures = [FirstElement, ...TPackFeature[]];
+type TPackFeatures = [TNoFeature, ...TPackFeature[]];
diff --git a/src/utils/lineUtils.ts b/src/utils/lineUtils.ts
index 0d837f12..9674a7ad 100644
--- a/src/utils/lineUtils.ts
+++ b/src/utils/lineUtils.ts
@@ -63,12 +63,12 @@ function getPointOffCanvasSide([x, y]: TPoint) {
 
 // remove intermediate out-of-canvas points from polyline
 export function filterOutOfCanvasPoints(points: TPoints) {
-  const pointsOutSide = points.map(getPointOffCanvasSide);
+  const pointsOutside = points.map(getPointOffCanvasSide);
   const SAFE_ZONE = 3;
-  const fragment = (i: number) => sliceFragment(pointsOutSide, i, SAFE_ZONE);
+  const fragment = (i: number) => sliceFragment(pointsOutside, i, SAFE_ZONE);
 
   const filterOutCanvasPoint = (i: number) => {
-    const pointSide = pointsOutSide[i];
+    const pointSide = pointsOutside[i];
     return !pointSide || fragment(i).some(side => !side || side !== pointSide);
   };
 
diff --git a/src/utils/typeUtils.ts b/src/utils/typeUtils.ts
index 94ce34aa..8248144b 100644
--- a/src/utils/typeUtils.ts
+++ b/src/utils/typeUtils.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+export const isFeature = (feature: TNoFeature | TPackFeature): feature is TPackFeature => feature !== 0;
+
+export const isLake = (feature: TNoFeature | TPackFeature): feature is IPackFeatureLake =>
+  isFeature(feature) && feature.type === "lake";
+
 export const isState = (state: TNeutrals | IState): state is IState => state.i !== 0 && !(state as IState).removed;
 
 export const isNeutals = (neutrals: TNeutrals | IState): neutrals is TNeutrals => neutrals.i === 0;