Making Sense Of The World, One Map At A Time
The map above shows what a “Globe” of the Earth would look like if the Earth was flat.
Most people accept that maps use a variety of projection techniques to render the 3D Earth onto a 2D plane. And that globes show us what the Earth really looks like.
However, flat Earth societies don’t buy this whole 3D/2D divide and believe (seriously or not) that the Earth is flat.
The interactive map from flightradar24 above shows live flight locations for commercial civilian aircraft around the world.
When you zoom in on Syria you can see how airlines choose route their planes to avoid all Syrian and most Iraqi airspace.
You probably already know that Chile is a rather long (or tall) country, but I bet you don’t know just quite how long it is.
From north to south, Chile extends 4,270 km (2,653 mi), yet is only 350 km (217 mi) at its widest point, and averages just 177 km (110 mi) east to west.
To see this visually, have a look at Chile’s length when rotated slightly compared to Europe above or its length compared to the US when placed on its side.
Both maps were create using the very cool True Size Of map tool.
To learn more about how Chile have a look at the following books:
Think these maps are cool? Then please share them with a friend:
The map above shows a face combined from pictures of each of Africa’s Heads of State.
You can similar maps for Asia’s Heads of State below, along with a map of North America made from the faces from Mexican and American Governors and Canadian Premiers.
If you’re in London at some point before 1 March 2017, you need to head over to the British Library and check out Maps and the 20th Century: Drawing the Line. (and if not you should buy the book instead).
It is quite simply the best map exhibit I’ve ever seen.
Now that 2016 is finally over, we thought it would be fun to look back at our most popular maps from last year.
(We did the same thing for the Top 15 Maps of 2015 last year.)
The maps below are ranked on the number of visitors each received in 2016. As you’ll see some are older posts that got a second lease on life, while most are brand new to 2016.
Enjoy:
The map above shows how far you theoretically could see from the top of Mt. Everest on perfectly clear day, with perfect vision and without any obstacles.
The map above shows countries where the world’s most viral app ever, Pokemon GO, is available.
The map shows what an independent Republic of Kamchatka, (best known as a territory in Risk) might look like.
The Aral Sea was once the fourth largest body of inland water in the world with an area of 68,000 km2 but, as the map dramatically illustrates, it has now shrunk and fragmented to a mere shadow of its former self.
It lies between Kazakhstan to the north and Uzbekistan to the south. Its drainage basin also includes parts of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.