Maps provide us with new perspectives on the world we live in. Some depict the size of countries and continents, while others depict the reality of crime in our own communities. These are the maps you never learned about in geography class in high school! But, we’re willing to bet that you’ll have a new perspective on the world…
Interesting Maps That Will Change Your Perspective
A Standard Map
We’re all accustomed to seeing maps that look similar to this. For example, they might draw out the borders of each country or show some mountain ranges. But isn’t it difficult to get a true sense of anything by looking at this map?
A Standard Map
The True Size of Greenland
We tend to get the impression from maps like the one you just saw that Greenland is enormous – we’re talking the size of the entire continent of South America enormous. Greenland, on the other hand, is actually smaller than Brazil in terms of land area. In comparison, the entire island of Greenland has a population of just over 56,000 people, whereas So Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, has more than 12 million. Allow that to sink in.
The True Size Of Greenland
Who Every State Hates
Unless you live in New Jersey, where you apparently hate everyone equally, or Hawaii, where you apparently hate no one, each state in America has another state that you can’t stand, according to this Instagram user’s followers. California can’t seem to get a break!
Who Every State Hates
France’s Longest Border is Shared With Brazil
That wasn’t a mistake. France shares its border with 11 other countries, most of which are in Europe proper, as shown on this map. Its longest border, which it shares with Brazil, is in French Guiana in South America.
France’s Longest Border Is Shared With Brazil
The Range of Flamingos
What’s surprising is that flamingos, which we previously thought could only be found in the wild, can now be found in a lot more places around the world. Who doesn’t like flamingos? This is exciting news.
The Range Of Flamingos
An Eagle’s Flight Path
The flight path of an eagle from the Middle East to Central Asia and down through North Africa is depicted on this map over the course of 20 years. The tracker was set up in Russia and followed the eagle all the way to Saudi Arabia, where it died. It’s incredible to think that any living creature could undertake such a journey in its lifetime!
An Eagle’s Flight Path
Land Use Throughout the Nation
This map depicts what each region of the United States is used for in terms of land use. As you can see, a large portion of the country is dedicated to livestock or livestock-related activities (such as their food). Timber, urban housing, and federal wilderness are among the other industries.
Land Use Throughout The Nation
Texas Isn’t as Big as You Thought
They say everything is bigger in Texas, but it appears that Texas isn’t quite as big as we think. At least not when compared to the countries that make up Africa.
Texas Isn’t As Big As You Thought
America’s Population Density
Collectively, to this extent, all of the red areas add up to more than the sum of the area covered by the Gray Area on this map. With this in mind, it’s quite obvious that Americans will almost always favor the coasts!
America’s Population Density
DEA’s Map of Cartel Influence in The United States
The U.S. DEA released its annual National Drug Threat Assessment, which shows which states have been infiltrated by Mexican drug cartels. According to the report, various cartels wield significant power in most US states, with the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion having the most clout. The Sinaloa Cartel, Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, Cartel del Golfo, Organización de Beltrán-Leyva, and Los Rojos are all represented on this map, in Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Chicago, New York, Florida, Kansas, Colorado, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
DEA’s Map Of Cartel Influence In The United States
Light Pollution
This map illustrates which regions of the United States have the lightest pollution, so if you consider yourself a stargazing hobbyist, it may be prudent to avoid the East Coast – or, for that matter, the entire eastern half of the United States.
Light Pollution
Noise Pollution
The eastern half of the United States appears to be not only brighter but also noisier. The moral of the story is to avoid the eastern half of the country and large cities in general if you despise people.
Noise Pollution
A Superhighway
If you’ve ever fantasized about traveling from London to New York City, this map is for you. It was designed as one large superhighway by the former president of Russian Railways. It’s quite strange to consider that approximately half of the trip will be spent in Russia alone!
A Superhighway
Places Mentioned in the Bible
This map is intended for Biblical scholars. However, given that travel was much more difficult in the past than today, it’s quite fascinating to see how much knowledge people had about other parts of the world during the first century AD when the New Testament was written!
Places Mentioned In The Bible
Map of Mars
If you’re sick of Earth (which, let’s face it, we all are), then this map is for you. It would depict Mars’ surface if it were similarly covered in 71 percent water. Doesn’t it appear to be quite mountainous? Indeed, that small island-like structure on the western side of the map resembles a massive volcano…
Map Of Mars
Mons Olympus
… Indeed, it is our solar system’s largest volcano, Mons Olympus. As illustrated above, it is so large that it would not fit inside the state of Arizona and is twice the height of Mount Everest. Can you even fathom the devastation that would result if this thing erupted? Or perhaps we don’t want to know…
Mons Olympus
The US From Alaska’s Point of View
If you look at a United States map, you’ll notice that Alaska is almost always an afterthought. It is typically printed tiny on the back of the map. Alaskan mapmakers apparently got tired of being an afterthought and created their own map in which mainland America is the afterthought!
The US From Alaska’s Point Of View
The Closest Country to Each Part of the US
While the sections of the US closest to Canada and Mexico are self-evident, how strange is it that some sections are closer to Kiribati, the Bahamas, Cuba, and Russia? It just goes to show how massive the United States truly is!
The Closest Country To Each Part Of The US
Fires in the Amazon
This is a sobering map of all active fires in the Amazon rainforest, some of which are natural and human-caused. It’s depressing to watch one of Earth’s natural wonders deteriorate continuously.
Fires In The Amazon
Middle America’s Population
As previously stated, it is no secret that Americans gravitate toward the coasts, but this map puts it into perspective. The orange sections correspond to a population equal to that of the red section in its entirety. So, if you enjoy nature and solitude, the red section (also known as the flyover states or middle America) may be for you!
Middle America’s Population
Route to all of the Springfields
The United States has a LOT of Springfields – 33 to be exact, with five in Wisconsin alone! And that does not include the townships (in which case, there are 36). If you’ve ever wished you could visit all of them in a single trip, this is the map for you! It indicates the shortest route.
Route To All Of The Springfields
Scope of the Mongol Empire
While we are all aware that the Mongol Empire was enormous, this map demonstrates just how enormous it truly was. It is still considered the world’s largest empire, having existed from the 13th to the 14th centuries. This map, in particular, depicts the empire’s extent in 1279. The empire spanned nine million square miles at its height.
Scope Of The Mongol Empire
Lithuanian Magnet Map
To boost tourism, Lithuania devised what is perhaps the most ingenious scheme ever devised to entice people to visit: they created a map of the country entirely made of magnets – but each magnet is only available in specific cities. I’m not sure about you, but that makes us want to visit even more. And how many people can claim to have visited Lithuania? There aren’t many, that’s for certain.
Lithuanian Magnet Map
Places Johnny Cash Has Been in ‘I’ve Been Everywhere.’
The song “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash depicts his claims of having traveled worldwide, along with all of the places shown on this map.
Places Johnny Cash Has Been In ‘I’ve Been Everywhere.’
Metric vs. Imperial
We’re all aware of how little the imperial system is used worldwide, but this map puts it into perspective. The United States, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only countries that currently use it. But, at the end of the day, we can all thank the British for it, as they brought it over with them when they colonized America a few hundred years ago.
Metric Vs. Imperial
Abandoned Railroads in America
The railroad’s invention in 1827 revolutionized transportation. As you can see, most abandoned railroads are in the eastern half of the country, which makes sense given that the country gradually expanded westward in the 1800s. Trains became less popular as planes and automobiles became more popular, and more railroads were abandoned.
Abandoned Railroads In America
Canadians Prefer the South
We all knew that much of Canada was rural, but did you know that half of the country’s population lives south of the line on the map? We imagine that the harsh winters up north deter a lot of people from settling there!
Canadians Prefer The South
Snow Cancellations
Snow was either a blast or a pain, depending on where you grew up in the United States. Even if it snowed a foot the night before, you were pretty much guaranteed to be required to get to school on time in states with harsher winters. However, if you grew up in the south, even a light dusting was enough to keep you out of school for the entire day!
Snow Cancellations
Preferred Coffee Chains
The slogan of Dunkin’ Donuts is “America runs on Dunkin’,” but according to this map of Americans’ preferred coffee chains, that isn’t entirely true. In fact, Starbucks is preferred by the majority of Americans. Minnesotans, on the other hand, prefer Caribou, whatever that is.
Preferred Coffee Chains
China vs. Russia
On most maps, China appears to be a speck of dirt compared to Russia, but this isn’t the case. China gives Russia a run for its money, but Russia is still the bigger country.
China Vs. Russia
All of the Countries That Can Fit Inside the US
The United States is huge, and this map depicts all of the countries that could fit inside it in terms of area, with some room to spare. As you can see, there’s a lot.
All Of The Countries That Can Fit Inside The US