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30 Unusual Maps People Shared On This Group That Might Change Your Perspective On Things
Interview With Author
For many of us, cartography day in geography or history class meant a quick nap. With our eyes open, we’d dream of all the delicious stuff we were gonna eat after school, of music we’d play on the Walkman, of a message we received the other day from that cutie…
To bring back our long-lost excitement for hard pieces of data, aka maps, plans, and geographic drawings, we're gonna need to start from the very best of them. Luckily, there’s a whole online community on Reddit dedicated to the most unusual charts of geographic areas that took maps to a whole new level.
From mapping "October" in European languages to mapping an eagle’s track over a period of twenty years, these incredible examples will surely put the world into a completely new perspective.
Who knows, you may well unleash your inner cartographer and become among 1.1 million like-minded members of the maps subreddit. In that case, you may need some more cartographical goodness with 41 maps that portray lesser-known facts about America.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
An Image Of GPS Tracking Of Multiple Wolves In Six Different Packs Around Voyageurs National Park Shows How Much The Wolf Packs Avoid Each Other's Range
RELATED:
#2
To Increase Local Tourism, Lithuania Has Made A Map With Magnets That You Can Only Find In Corresponding Cities
#3
Occupied Bald Eagle Nests In Wisconsin. 1974 vs. 2019. Growth Credited To The Clean Water Act
Amalie Plougmann 4 years ago (edited)
Lol, I see this is 5 months ago. #GoBiden
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Katy McMouse 5 years ago
When I was a kid, bald eagles were on the endangered species list and I pretty much figured I'd never, ever see one. I live on Lake Erie, in Pennsylvania, and for the past decade they've made a comeback. I saw one for the first time fly very low over my house just the other day and it was utterly amazing. He was a monster (in size) and I might have squealed like a little kid for about 5 minutes. It's astonishing what one creature can do to my inner child!
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
In raptors (eagles, hawks, kites, etc.) the females are larger than the males. I watched a pair of Peregrine Falcons do an hour of pair-bonding flight after fledging four babies, and she was two-thirds larger than he was. It was really striking.
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Kristin Ingersoll 5 years ago (edited)
And Trump decimated The Clean Water Act in April. Hopefully President Biden will correct this before the eagles are killed off AGAIN.
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Biden is going to be spending a LOT of his first year in office undoing the damage of the 🍊🍄💩!
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Marlowe Fitzpatrik 5 years ago
In Germany, it would be quite similar with our White Tailed Eagles, except the reason they have a huge comeback is that we banned a certain herbicide from use, which accumulates in the food-chain and weakened the egg-shells. We now have, in appropriate habitats, no shortage of our largest birds anymore! And they're getting more. Oh, I might add that there'd been a rehabitation-project that bred the eagles in captivity and then let them free to re-popularize the areas. It was a huge success, and we have a nest each year at our city and so far, the pair has brought up 2 little ones each year (5th year this year).
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
That’s what happened in the U.S. as well. DDT was to blame—it made the shells very thin and when the parents would roost on them, they would break. Eagles and condors (a very large vulture) were the worst hit.
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Deborah Schmehr 5 years ago
I was in junior high in 1974. I remember learning that bald eagles were almost extinct in the wild, and that we would almost certainly never see one outside a zoo, or on film. Not one of us had ever seen one in person. Now, I can drive down a rural road at dawn or dusk, and see, in the wild, with my very own eyes, bald eagles!! We CAN make a difference in what happens to our world!
Grumble O'Pug 5 years ago
Now if the Clean Soil Act gets some purchase in congress, companies can't throw waste out into ponds, desiccate and throw it in the general environment
Cheryl Wilcox 5 years ago
You mean the clean water act that was just trashed by the current administration?
Robin Huff 5 years ago
Yup. Along with the Clean Water Act and virtually every environmental protection gained over the last 50-80 years.
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Mark Kraabel 5 years ago
Haven't read all the comments, but isn't the driving reason for the recovery the banning of DDT?
M O'Connell 5 years ago
It's probably better. DDT has been banned for so long it would be highly doubtful anyone would manufacture it, even if the grumpy-old-party repealed its ban.
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Jennifer Wallin 5 years ago (edited)
Growth wasn’t from the clean water act, it was from banning DDT that caused eggshell thinning.
Hugh Walter 4 years ago
A powerful message against everything Trump's done to Environmental services!
Anne Hanna 5 years ago
for a little while we lived on Vancouver Island. Sitting on our deck one big eagle landed on top of one of the fir trees in our yard, they are very large and beautiful, there were a lot of eagles this is not so long ago around the beginning of 1990. I don't know for sure but I think there are a lot of the big birds living still in the area.
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Just wait until you see a Golden Eagle! They’re way bigger than the Bald.
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Camilla Krone 5 years ago
I remember seeing my first bald eagle when my Chicago area family was vacationing in Sawyer Co. Wisconsin and my dad and I were out fishing on a lovely summer afternoon in maybe 1966 or so. The eagle flew right over our boat and it was magnificent! I'd never before seen a bird with a really big wingspan like that. My dad told me that eagles were going extinct, so we were lucky to see one while there were still a few left in the wilderness. Now I live in Central MN, and it's a fairly common sight to see a bald eagle flying over the Sauk River hunting for fish or small animals. We also see flocks of sandhill cranes in the summertime and a pair of wild swans that must nest along the river each year. I also remember the DDT fogger trucks that came around our neighborhood to spray for mosquitoes. Moms told their kids to come home and play indoors when the trucks were around. So some days we ended up stuck behind the fogger breathing DDT. I doubt that was what our moms meant for us to do!
India W 5 years ago
The biggest threat to them now is lead ammunition that gets lodged in carrion and is ingested by the eagles. They get lead poisoning and it can lead to nervous damage and other health issues.
Robin Huff 5 years ago
Lead poisoning is ultimately a terrible death. Wind turbines kill hundreds, also, along with bats, which are extremely important in the ecosystem. Wind turbine companies no longer need to report the numbers of bald eagles killed, either. They were granted 20-year open ended contracts to avoid the required reporting of deaths of a species protected under the Endangered Species Act. Open-ended means it can be renewed in perpetuity. The wind turbines can, as I understand it, be adjusted to kill fewer animals by adjusting their speed, but doing so decreases the amount of energy reclaimed. It’s easier to kill Endangered Species than work on the design of equipment. 🤬🤬 Many bat species are also Endangered, BTW.
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Christel Nellemann 5 years ago
Aww, we need more good news. This only happens through us collecting data and finding out, what works. Also called science. I hope, science doesnt die entirely in todays divided states of america 🙁
Marcellus the Third 5 years ago
Banning DDT might be also a contributing factor, but for the eagles water is more important than for the other raptors.
Clever Dog 5 years ago
There are not many good news environmental stories but this is one. Fantastic.
Terri Olson 5 years ago
These numbers will decline due to trumps roll back on the clean water act
Anne Hanna 5 years ago
wow, that is fantastic, way to go, the whole world can learn from this!! Thanks !
Blair Baker 5 years ago
that and stealing eagles from Nova Scotia to repopulate areas of the US, which apparently worked, but I figured Migratory birds would just find their way back.
Pungent Sauce 5 years ago
Used to be rare and majestic when I was a kid, now I see them eating roadkill.
Stannous Flouride 5 years ago
The Trump administration in April finalized its controversial definition of what marshes, wetlands and streams quality for protections under the Clean Water Act. Under the Clean Water Act, lawsuits must start in federal district courts, which means challengers can file them all over the country. Those cases will proceed simultaneously. Based on a recent Supreme Court ruling in an immigration case, it is unlikely a federal district court judge will issue a nationwide injunction blocking the rule across the country. Given the way Rethuglicants are packing the Supreme Court with unqualified reactionary justices it seems unlikely that our Earth will win.
Robin Huff 5 years ago
I need a combination crying and cursing emoji. 😭😡🤬 “For the love of money is the root of all evil “. If destruction of this beautiful planet and its flora and fauna is not true evil, IDK what is.
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Robin Huff 5 years ago
The Endangered Species Act was essential to the recovery of bald eagles. The story of the bald eagle shows the very need for the ESA, not that Nature can recover without it. Some humans require the force of law to change their behavior. The only way Nature can recover on its own would be the total absence of Human activity and pollutants. BTW, eagles are presently being slaughtered by the hundreds from wind turbines and lead poisoning from lead shot and lead fishing lures, which the ingest from contaminated fish. And Lead poisoning is a long, horrific death.
Load More Replies...To find out more about this amusing Reddit community by the name r/MapP**n, Bored Panda reached out to its creator Patrick McGranaghan, who started the subreddit in 2011 while living in Taiwan.
Patrick said he has always been a map geek: “I wanted people to share those maps so that they are easy to find and discuss.”
It turns out, he works as a land surveyor in Colorado and is a devoted member of several map societies across the nation, including the North American Cartographic Information Society, Charles Close Society for the Study of Ordnance Survey Maps, and Rocky Mountain Map Society, to name just a few.
#4
Tracking Of An Eagle Over A 20 Year Period
#5
When A Band Announces A World Tour
#6
Japan, How Big It Is In Reality?
Theodore Theodora 5 years ago
Okay, mind blown; it's literally twice as big as I'd imagined given typical maps. Thank you, person who made it!
The creator said that the title r/MapP**n followed the trend on Reddit at the time when “there were a lot of subreddits with a *-porn suffix.” He explained further: “This refers to pictures of innocuous things like nature, architecture, or engineering marvels in a beautiful way. It was not meant to be sexual. The internet at the time was a lot more relaxed and using that term was funny.”
“In the years since the culture on the internet has taken a much more puritan bias and some people don't like that name,” Patrick said.
However, he assured us that “the goal of the brand has not changed, though: it's a place to share and discuss beautiful maps.”
#7
The Earth Being Centered On Great Britain Is Arbitrary, So Here's A Map Centered On New Zealand
Jyri Hakola 5 years ago
To be honest, only the Centering of 0-meridian to britain is arbitary.. location of 0 latitude at the ecquator is quite natural selection.
#8
Cheese Map Of Europe
#9
The United States Of America: Alaskan Perspective
When it comes to submissions, they come in every form and style. “From historical maps showing ancient borders, to funny memes and transit maps. People also post imaginary maps of places that they create in their minds.”
In fact, every kind of map imaginable has been posted to this subreddit. Patrick said that linguistic maps are popular, as well as maps that re-imagine state and national borders. There are also maps of asteroids and maps of routes of famous explorers.
“One of my favorite interactions is when a map is posted of an obscure place and someone in the comments says they live there or has a story about that place.”
#10
50 Percent Of Canadians Live South Of The Red Line
#11
Each Section Has 10% Of The World's Population
#12
List Of Countries Mentioned Or Referred In The Bible
Nicola Roberts 5 years ago
Wow, I never knew this. Unlikely Jesus was fair skinned, blond and blue eyed....
Patrick concluded that “Maps are a way to visualize the world in a way that is easy to grasp. They are an aid in learning about new lands and faraway places. They help us find our way when we are lost.”
Especially in a time like now, “when the pandemic prevents us from traveling, maps are a way that we can travel without leaving our home,” the map enthusiast said.
#13
The Longest Possible Train Travel In The World
#14
Where Penguins Are Found Naturally In The World
#15
Size Comparison Between Australia And The United States
#16
3D Render Topographic Map Of Europe
Linus Nilsson 5 years ago
I didn't know there was an ice-wall between Finland and Russia!?! (Do I need to write 'Sarkasm'?)
#17
North America Animal Migration Routes
#18
A Europe–U.S. Superhighway Proposed By The Former President Of Russian Railways
#19
The Surface Of Mars: If, Like Earth, 71% Of Its Surface Area Was Covered With Water
#20
World's Smallest Country vs. Largest Building
#21
The Decline Of Our Native Tongue Over The Last 2 Centuries, I Find The Maps Rather Than The Reciting Of Statistics, Gives A Far Better Impression On The Overall Erosion Of One Of The Biggest Aspects Of Our Culture, Irish Itself
#22
Worlds CO Emissions
#23
Locations Johnny Cash Claims To Have Been In "Ive Been Everywhere"
#24
The Countries That Got Tea Via China Through The Silk Road (Land) Referred To It In Various Forms Of The Word "Cha". On The Other Hand, The Countries That Traded With China Via Sea - Through The Min Tan Port Called It In Different Forms Of "Te"
#25
Passenger Railway Network 2020
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
In the "australia" map.... that little pink line above the "L", is actually New Zealand - a totally separate country to "Australia" (although the Aussies & Kiwis do consider themselves like "siblings" ie we are staunch rivals within sports, but stick together in defense of eachother).
#26
What Pedestrians Look Like Across Europe
#27
The Topologist's Map Of The World - A Map Showing International Borders, And Nothing Else
#28
These Two Areas Of Africa Have Roughly Equal Populations
#29
Roads Either Side Of The Border: Finland vs. Russia
#30
Syria Before And After Civil War
#31
The Surprising Range Of Flamingos
#32
My Teacher Was Excited For Our WWI Unit
#33
World With 1000m Sea Level Drop
#34
A Map Of The World But It’s Just The Time Zones
#35
The History Of Accuracy In World Maps
#36
North American Cryptids
#37
How The Antarctic Looks Beneath The Ice
#38
All The Nations That Have To Be Combined To Be Equal To Brazils Annual Homicides
Nicola Roberts 5 years ago
Staggering. I appreciate this done for affect, but I would be interested in Mexico's figures.
#39
How Much Snow Does It Usually Take To Cancel Schools?
#40
Variations Of The Name John
ADHORTATOR 5 years ago (edited)
In German ist would be Johann/ Johannes first, Jan and Hans are shorter versions
#41
When Visiting Someone: Red - Keep Shoes On, Green - Take Shoes Off
#42
Brazil's Northernmost Point Is Closer To Every Country In The Americas Than To Brazil's Southernmost Point
#43
I Recorded The Last Two Months As A Pizza Delivery Guy (On Bike)
#44
Turkey , Borders 7 Countries With 7 Different Alphabets
#45
‘October’ In European Languages
#46
There And Back Again
#47
The Japanese Flag But The Two Colors Have The Same Population
#48
Map Of Venus If It Has As Much Water As Earth
#49
Percentage Of People Willing To Fight For Their Country
#50
New Take On The Concept Of A World Metro
#51
Coats Of Arms Of European Countries
#52
World’s 25 Largest Lakes Side By Side
Rainbow Panda 5 years ago
But Caspian Sea is a sea. 🌊 (It’s a joke for those who are gonna complain in the reply section)
#53
How I, A Brit, See The United States (Sorry If It Offends Anyone)
Katy McMouse 5 years ago
You only call New England "small and confusing" because you are still wondering how you lost it (no offense, just joking! Seriously).
#54
You Can Fit The Entirety Of Poland Into Texas And Still Be Able To Drive Around It
#55
How To Say "Thank You" In Europe
IlovemydogShilo 5 years ago
Thank you in Irish is Go Raibh Maith Agat ( Pronounced Go Ro My Aggat. Thank you in Welsh is Diolch (pronounced Diolsh).
#56
How To Become President With 22% Of The Vote
If you would get 50.1% of the vote of each red-coloured state, 22% of the population of the country, you would become president, even if 78% of the country voted for another person, this is assuming that 49.9% of people in the the red-coloured states voted for the blue party, and 100% of the people in the blue-coloured states voted for the blue party.
NOTE: The colours dont mean anything
#57
Comparing The Population Of The Dakotas And Manhattan
#58
Paper Sizes World Map
#59
Map Of Almost All Countries And Their Respective Camo Patterns
#60
4 Years Of Trucking, Each Dot Is Somewhere He Spent >1 Hour
#61
Position Of The North Magnetic Pole Since 1590
#62
What Motorcycles Look Like Across Europe (Based On The Prohibitory Road Sign)
MrTree1779 5 years ago
Span, Italy, and Romania apparently don't have Motorcycles. They have Tron Light Cycles!
#63
Olympus Mons Compared To France
#64
British Columbia Split Into 3 Areas Of Equal Population
MrTree1779 5 years ago
They should rename the Province to "Not Vancouver", then make Vancouver a City State.
#65
Europe Number Plates
#66
Hundred Largest Islands Of The World
#67
Frances Longest Border Is Shared With Brazil!
#68
The Russian Flag But The Two Colors Have The Same Population
#69
90 Minute Public Transit Commuter Zone For London vs. San Francisco
#70
Usage Of 'Dang' In The United States
#71
The Nearest Country To Everywhere In The US
#72
The Nearest Country To You, When In Russia
Aragorn II Elessar 5 years ago
@I’m not even going to try to write that out, as it would give me an aneurysm, it is, in fact, the nearest country to you when in Russia
#73
Amount Of Tanks Per 100 000 People
#74
Average 'First Leaf' Appearance In The Contiguous U.S.
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
I want to live somewhere where I have to where a light jacket in summer and I'm snowed in during winter. I'm tired of sweating mid October.
#75
The Italian Flag, But Every Colour Has The Same Population
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What do you think ?
Ashris Choudhury 5 years ago
Hello :) #24 is made by us at https://fb.com/indiainpixels - as the watermark says. Could you please source us instead? Thank you
MariaLuise Gutmann 5 years ago
Nearly all parts of knowledge are mixed like a kaleidoskop -fantastic
Marta Kęska 5 years ago (edited)
One of the most interesting things I've recently found on Bored Panda:) Love it:)
Ashris Choudhury 5 years ago
Hello :) #24 is made by us at https://fb.com/indiainpixels - as the watermark says. Could you please source us instead? Thank you
MariaLuise Gutmann 5 years ago
Nearly all parts of knowledge are mixed like a kaleidoskop -fantastic
Marta Kęska 5 years ago (edited)
One of the most interesting things I've recently found on Bored Panda:) Love it:)
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