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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
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"
Gabriel Gamas Giuntini 5 years ago
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 5 years ago
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...
NMN 5 years ago
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 5 years ago
Sorry, but in Poland tea is actually "herbata", so from "herbs", so completely out of these sources XDD
Mune Wu 5 years ago
Actually it does. It is a blend of Latin words HERBA (herbs) and THEA.
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Ani Archeron 5 years ago
how did Portugal trade by land, if separated completely by countries who traded by sea ......
onivdsrapowijap 4 years ago
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 5 years ago
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 :-)
Živilė Šmitaitė 5 years ago
In Lithuanian it's arbata. Other languages- herbata - derives from herb, latin herba - herbal brew :)
João Guimarães 5 years ago
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
Jette Wang Wahnon 5 years ago
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 3 years ago
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.
Anna Linkowska 5 years ago
But if You would think that "zioło" is herb in latin and then add Tea you will get Herba Tea - herbata :)
Load More Replies... NMN 5 years ago
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??
Kuningatar Keitto 4 years ago
In Polish, tea is called "herbata", the root of the word being herbs, or rather its Latin aequivalent.
Kai Melling 4 years ago
Sounds great until you realize that in Poland, tea is called "herbata".
Marta Barzyk 4 years ago
W Polsce pierwsza herbata chyba przywędrowała z Rosji dawniej znana jako czaj stąd nazwa czajnik naczynia do gotowania jej.
Adam Pagria 4 years ago
"Via" means "through," so "via China" is incorrect, because it's FROM China!
Roxy Eastland 4 years ago
Funnily enough in the UK yes we call it tea but a slang term is 'char', as in 'a cuppa char'.
Pamela Blue 5 years ago
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.
Mittens Wiggum 5 years ago
in England it can be called 'A cup of cha' also... due to the colonies - we use 'Tea' as its from the French 'Thé'
Jana Zeumerová 5 years ago
I Can confirm it, in my language (Slovak) we call tea "čaj" - chat...😉and according this map we were part if Silk Road...🍵
Vito Kiliano 5 years ago
"Chai" is in countries where it was imported on the land by "Silk road" and "Tea" is for overseas importing
Eglė Bukauskaitė 5 years ago
insert lithuanian "Arbata" (ok, it does contain a "Ta" withinin the word
Daniel Clarke 5 years ago
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.
Khaled Shal 5 years ago
In North African countries (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya), the word actually used is "tey" derived from the French word "thé"
Tadas Mockus 5 years ago
Why is Lithuania Green? Its called Arbata here. Thats nothing like Tea :D
Michał Ślusarski 5 years ago
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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#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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