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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.

#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

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

john3806 Report

#2

To Increase Local Tourism, Lithuania Has Made A Map With Magnets That You Can Only Find In Corresponding Cities

To Increase Local Tourism, Lithuania Has Made A Map With Magnets That You Can Only Find In Corresponding Cities

greycoconut Report

#3

Occupied Bald Eagle Nests In Wisconsin. 1974 vs. 2019. Growth Credited To The Clean Water Act

Occupied Bald Eagle Nests In Wisconsin. 1974 vs. 2019. Growth Credited To The Clean Water Act

zstahowiak Report

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

Tracking Of An Eagle Over A 20 Year Period

HDeo950 Report

#5

When A Band Announces A World Tour

When A Band Announces A World Tour

esloubro Report

#6

Japan, How Big It Is In Reality?

Japan, How Big It Is In Reality?

c0urso Report

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Theodore Theodora
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, mind blown; it's literally twice as big as I'd imagined given typical maps. Thank you, person who made it!

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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

The Earth Being Centered On Great Britain Is Arbitrary, So Here's A Map Centered On New Zealand

ParadoxicalCabbage Report

#8

Cheese Map Of Europe

Cheese Map Of Europe

dazzledvulture Report

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#9

The United States Of America: Alaskan Perspective

The United States Of America: Alaskan Perspective

Pariahdog119 Report

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.

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“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

50 Percent Of Canadians Live South Of The Red Line

midlleeastcelts Report

#11

Each Section Has 10% Of The World's Population

Each Section Has 10% Of The World's Population

AppleBiryani Report

#12

List Of Countries Mentioned Or Referred In The Bible

List Of Countries Mentioned Or Referred In The Bible

Erik_John09 Report

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Nicola Roberts
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, I never knew this. Unlikely Jesus was fair skinned, blond and blue eyed....

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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.

#15

Size Comparison Between Australia And The United States

Size Comparison Between Australia And The United States

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#16

3D Render Topographic Map Of Europe

3D Render Topographic Map Of Europe

reddit.com Report

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Linus Nilsson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't know there was an ice-wall between Finland and Russia!?! (Do I need to write 'Sarkasm'?)

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#17

North America Animal Migration Routes

North America Animal Migration Routes

expatdoctor Report

#18

A Europe–U.S. Superhighway Proposed By The Former President Of Russian Railways

A Europe–U.S. Superhighway Proposed By The Former President Of Russian Railways

emilylikesredditalot Report

#19

The Surface Of Mars: If, Like Earth, 71% Of Its Surface Area Was Covered With Water

The Surface Of Mars: If, Like Earth, 71% Of Its Surface Area Was Covered With Water

crukey Report

#20

World's Smallest Country vs. Largest Building

World's Smallest Country vs. Largest Building

neilrkaye Report

#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

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

dumbcrow123 Report

#23

Locations Johnny Cash Claims To Have Been In "Ive Been Everywhere"

Locations Johnny Cash Claims To Have Been In "Ive Been Everywhere"

DaTingGoesSkraaa Report

#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"

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"

reddit.com Report

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Gabriel Gamas Giuntini
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Portugal was the first European contact. The Portuguese kin drink more tea when compared with the British people. The origin of tea in England happened because of a Portuguese Princess that became England’s Queen, she LOVED tea, because in Portugal EVERYBODY used to drink it. So, when the Queen started drinking tea, all British aristocracy started drinking also. And then some philologists say that the origin of the word tea is that in the boxes where Portugal use to transport Tea Herbs, in the boxes used to be written “Transporte de Ervas Aromáticas” (Aromatic’s herbs transports) and the initials that were on the box were “TEA”, so that is why the name, it’s the Portuguese influence in the world!! If you wanna read more, just look in this BBC report http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170823-the-true-story-behind-englands-tea-obsession

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Rado
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know who and how created this map but I see it as oversimplified. It's not taking into account the English language influence during the colonial times. For example - it's hard to believe that in Myanmar they use 'tea' because of the sea trade routes while this country has quite a long border with China. The only explanation is the it's a former English colony. Plus there are lot's of tribes there so it's hard to believe they all use 'tea'. In Malaysia the Malays say 'teh' the Chinese "cha' and people with Indian origin 'chai'. And Portugal as a country with a land trade route to China? What a crap. They were first to discover the sea route to India (after the Arab merchants of course) so probably 'chá' in Portuguese is because of early contacts with India rather than with China. And we could go on like this...

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NMN
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, oversimplified and sometimes just wrong. But... as ast I checked was Japan dunno if Goa would be the point of learning.

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Kamila Anna
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry, but in Poland tea is actually "herbata", so from "herbs", so completely out of these sources XDD

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Ani Archeron
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

how did Portugal trade by land, if separated completely by countries who traded by sea ......

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onivdsrapowijap
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They got it by sea, just not from Min Nan where most countries that traded it by sea did.

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Aleksander Gruchot
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Poland we use the word "HERBATA" coming rather from Latin "herbum" than from any type of chai or te. However we use the word "czajnik" for teapot and you can find this "chai" component there :-)

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Živilė Šmitaitė
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Lithuanian it's arbata. Other languages- herbata - derives from herb, latin herba - herbal brew :)

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João Guimarães
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Portugal was one of the main traders of tea. In fact, the English tradition of the 5 o clock tea was started by a Portuguese queen, Catarina de Bragança, married to the English king. It was a habit of the Portuguese aristocracy. Check it out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Braganza

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Jette Wang Wahnon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tea was in England at least a year and a half before she arrived at Portsmouth on the 14th of May 1662 Read the entry of Samuel Pepys on the 25 of September 1660 (Samuel Pepys´s Diaries)

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Arith Härger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Doesn't add up in relation to Portugal, which very much went by sea, being the first Europeans to contact with Japan and the first Europeans to reach Australia almost 100 years before Captain Cook (as evidenced by archaeological findings of a Portuguese ship and coins). It is certainly called "cha" but the trading was very much done by sea.

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Anna Linkowska
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But if You would think that "zioło" is herb in latin and then add Tea you will get Herba Tea - herbata :)

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NMN
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wrong. Not all cha are by land. Portugal was by sea in trade with Japan in the 1500s. Also it says Brazil is the only country in the Western hemisphere that uses cha... well Portugal? Some African countries?? Last I checked those are western. Also, why some Portuguese speaking African countries are not yellow??

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Peter Dongan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cha is slang for tea in Ireland. I wonder if it's not a coincidence.

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Kuningatar Keitto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Polish, tea is called "herbata", the root of the word being herbs, or rather its Latin aequivalent.

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Rob Hall
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Myanmar too: it borders on China, grows its own tea and its not called a variation of either cha or tea…

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Tài Trần
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, in Viet Nam, the North use the word "chè", which is probably from "tea". The South use the word "trà", which is probably from "chai".

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Kai Melling
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds great until you realize that in Poland, tea is called "herbata".

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D K
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My family in Egypt calls it (spelled phonetically) “shay”

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Neb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, Polish, Lithuanian are a bit different. Herbata, arbata... not falling under either of this.

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Liz Saito
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So how did they get to the island of Japan without crossing the sea?

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Marta Barzyk
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

W Polsce pierwsza herbata chyba przywędrowała z Rosji dawniej znana jako czaj stąd nazwa czajnik naczynia do gotowania jej.

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Jake H
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

HOW BRASIL HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE SILK ROAD GOT IT TO YOU BY LAND?

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Jake H
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BRASIL HOW DID YOU GET IT BY LAND IF THERE IS NO LAND TO TRAVEL IT BY

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C Pryce
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the UK, particularly England, we call a cup of tea "a cuppa cha", as a slang usage... : We should be yellow-green striped!

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Blue Sue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The UK, or at least England also say a cup of char, so both terms are used.

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Adam Pagria
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Via" means "through," so "via China" is incorrect, because it's FROM China!

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Roxy Eastland
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funnily enough in the UK yes we call it tea but a slang term is 'char', as in 'a cuppa char'.

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Grzegorz Lewandowski
Community Member
3 years ago

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Pamela Blue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many people in England refer to tea as a "cup o' cha". I remember my father using the term many times when I was growing up.

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Mittens Wiggum
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in England it can be called 'A cup of cha' also... due to the colonies - we use 'Tea' as its from the French 'Thé'

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Jana Zeumerová
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I Can confirm it, in my language (Slovak) we call tea "čaj" - chat...😉and according this map we were part if Silk Road...🍵

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Aneta B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol in Poland, we call it "herbata" - a bit of a stretch from "tea" IMO

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Vito Kiliano
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Chai" is in countries where it was imported on the land by "Silk road" and "Tea" is for overseas importing

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B-b-bird
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

khmm khmm... lithuanian: arbata... polish: herbata... where this comes from

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Mala Qiu
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Taiwan, it's also cha for the Mandarin speakers.

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Eglė Bukauskaitė
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

insert lithuanian "Arbata" (ok, it does contain a "Ta" withinin the word

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May Day
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Swedish: Te. Norwegian: Te. Finnish: Teetä. Danish: Te. Icelandic: Te. What do you call it?

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Daniel Clarke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think Australia and New Zealand didn't due much tea trading at the height of the silk road, and instead inherited their word from mother England.

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Khaled Shal
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In North African countries (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya), the word actually used is "tey" derived from the French word "thé"

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Tomáš Pruner
Community Member
3 years ago

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Joeshar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chai and Tea from China or Chai from China but Tea from India/Ceylon?

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Tadas Mockus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is Lithuania Green? Its called Arbata here. Thats nothing like Tea :D

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Michał Ślusarski
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is the same as Polish herbata - the name comes from "herba thea" (Latin for "leaves of tea"), so the map is correct.

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Kirsten Adamson
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3 years ago

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#25

Passenger Railway Network 2020

Passenger Railway Network 2020

TraveGeo Report

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Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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).

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What Pedestrians Look Like Across Europe

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#27

The Topologist's Map Of The World - A Map Showing International Borders, And Nothing Else

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#28

These Two Areas Of Africa Have Roughly Equal Populations

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#29

Roads Either Side Of The Border: Finland vs. Russia

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#30

Syria Before And After Civil War

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Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.