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You’d be surprised how many map enthusiasts there are, if you’re not already one of them. And to those who think that cartography is a legacy from an ancient world, let me tell you, it’s exactly the opposite.

Think of it as a mode of information telling, quite like story-telling, but with its own subtle rules and features. Today, maps can tell us all kinds of miscellaneous things you had no clue existed and the “Lover Of Geography” Instagram page is a perfect online source for that. Followed by 58.3k followers, the page is dedicated to sharing “high quality posts about interesting topics.” They also promise “you won't get bored here,” and they deliver.

Below we collected some of the most entertaining entries from the page, so scroll down and upvote your favorites as you go. After you’re done, make sure to check out our previous posts with unusual maps that may change how you see the world here, here and here.

#1

This Post Shows What Traditional Houses Look Like In Different Countries

This Post Shows What Traditional Houses Look Like In Different Countries

loverofgeography Report

#2

This Post Shows Some Cities From Different Countries From Above

This Post Shows Some Cities From Different Countries From Above

loverofgeography Report

#3

This Post Shows The Legal Status Of Homosexuality Around The World In 2022

This Post Shows The Legal Status Of Homosexuality Around The World In 2022

loverofgeography Report

To find out more about the creator behind the Lover Of Geography Instagram page, Bored Panda reached out to 20-year-old content creator from the Netherlands Melih Orkun Köksal, also known by his Instagram handle @melykoksal. Melih told us that he started this page in December 2019 when he was only 17 years old. “I currently study Earth Sciences at the College of Rotterdam. Other than geography my hobbies are going to the gym and hanging out with friends, not very different from a normal 20-year-old,” he said.

When asked about his interest in cartography, Melih told us that this fascination began in his childhood. “As a little kid as young as 5 years old, I always had a little bit of passion for world maps or countries. I had a huge world map in my room. Every day when I came back home from school I kept staring at the world map in my room because of how fascinating it was to me while most other kids just wouldn't care. I was playing games with myself trying to find all the countries and cities on the map. Or I played geography games on my PC after school.”

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#4

This Post Shows Which One Was Searched More In 2021 In Each Country

This Post Shows Which One Was Searched More In 2021 In Each Country

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#5

This Post Shows Which Country Europeans Think Has On Average The Most Attractive Citizens. Based On Polls On 1000 People Per Country

This Post Shows Which Country Europeans Think Has On Average The Most Attractive Citizens. Based On Polls On 1000 People Per Country

loverofgeography Report

#6

This Post Shows The Countries That Have Taken "Eat The Rich" Very Seriously

This Post Shows The Countries That Have Taken "Eat The Rich" Very Seriously

In 1672 The Dutch crowds did what crowds do best, namely lose all semblance of sense or sanity. The prime minister of the country was stripped naked, mutilated, and according to some reports, had their livers removed and eaten by the crowds. “C’est la vie, c’est la guerre,” as the French say.

loverofgeography Report

Moreover, the creator of the Lover Of Geography page recounted that he always wanted to know where the countries are located as a child. “I often asked my parents questions like 'Dad, where is this country located' because I was simply so interested in locations. My parents would notice this weird obsession and in a matter of time, when I was 6 years old, I knew all countries and their capital cities,” he said. Throughout his childhood, Melih said, his knowledge of maps grew “so much to the point that teachers in elementary school or my own parents had to ask me for extra information when we were going on vacation to a different country. Kids in school I was asked me to help them with their geography assignments.”

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#8

This Post Shows What The French Language Sounds Like According To Europeans Based On A Pollhow Is The Test Done

This Post Shows What The French Language Sounds Like According To Europeans Based On A Pollhow Is The Test Done

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carolyngerbrands avatar
Caro Caro
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Annoying hahaha. Sometimes it is because the French talk fast. pffft I have to give them a time-out sign sometimes.

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#9

This Post Shows Where Americans Pressed

This Post Shows Where Americans Pressed

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nathaniel avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not too bad. I can imagine a survey amongst us Britishers would show a similar result.

blue1steven avatar
Donkey boi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With only 10 seconds that's pretty good. I could easily understand someone hitting Belarus in their rush to answer and I can give benefit of the doubt to any Russian border countries in a panic, but the doughnut that hit Germany...

kayrose avatar
RoseTheMad
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm more concerned about how many hit Turkey, tbh. At least only one hit germany...

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

Would be interesting to know if the map had the country outlines/borders on. It’s a lot harder to accurately place countries without borders.

klimentova_eliska avatar
Eli Klimentova
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, I’m a European living in the US and I don’t think I’d do that much better if someone asked me to point out let’s say Idaho

wallicktn avatar
Tracy Wallick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wanna see the map where Europeans are asked to identify a certain US state in 10 seconds, lol

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

I know that Florida is the w**g, but that’s the only one I know with any certainty.

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

If you think Poles would do better, even nowadays - you're wrong :)

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TheTopTenz 37
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Germany, Estonia, Serbia: 1 Czechia, Bulgaria: 2 Slovakia: 3 Hungary, Moldova: 4 Latvia: 6 Russia: 9 Lithuania: 10 Romania: 15 Poland: 30 Turkey: 37 Belarus: 40 Ukraine: All the rest

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Emmett O'Brian
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my global studies high school class, the teacher asked one of the young ladies that was being rude to come up to the large map at the front of the room. She did so. He then asked her to point to China. She was not able to do so, despite the map being clearly labeled.

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

so most got it correct, and the rest got the general region, so not bad

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

That one guy who put germany i mean do they not know where burgers come from? its hamburg in germany and they shortened it to burgers because it has nothing to do with ham

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

as the annexion of the krim was already covered pretty well in the media, and the krim is also pretty easy to find on a map, it is just sad so many dots have been placed awkwardly wrong.

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

That could apply to any country about any other country. Come on.

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

We learn geography when a war occurs in that country which involves us.

9360swilli avatar
Susan Williams
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We learn geography when a war occurs in that country and involves us.

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-*Bubbly-Bear*-
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This post made me realize that my life was a lie I learned that we were neighbors with Russia but we aren't even close to Russia

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

Way better than expected. My old supervisor pointed to Greenland on a map and asked me if that was Australia.

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

I don't mock people for this. I have lived in America for years. I know where Ukraine is, but I can't point to Nebraska. Somewhere in the middle, I think. It may be a made up place for all I know. Like Narnia

dc1 avatar
DC
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, one guy, it seems, took Hannover for it ... didn't know I was in Ukraine right now (the westernmost dot ... could, roughly, be somewhere between Hannover, Berlin, the Harz ... somewhere in that triangle, it is).

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

Meh, I've met Americans who had a hard time finding their own state on a map. They get a pass for this.

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

I think this is more of an issue of familiarity. In the states we grow up looking at our country and learning all the states. I imagine in Europe they do the same with all of Europe. At a glance it's a similar amount of countries vs states, and from what I've seen on BP people from Europe may know where the more famous states/cities are, but can probably only get close if asked to name a state they never heard much of until a big incident brought it to the news

arabellafijac avatar
Julieandthephatones
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

lol there a YouTube vid of Americans trying to name different countries just...lol

luyendao avatar
Lu
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Close enough lol. Good thing they weren’t shown a map of the world.

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

That is soooo much better than I expected my fellow countrymen to do, you must have went to a college campus to ask this question, I mean not a great college but like one of our southern ones.

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J. B.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cannot believe anybody got it wrong. It's one of the biggest countries in Europe.

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

Let the Ukrainians attempt to label Arkansas or Utah or New Hampshire...

i_p_albrecht87 avatar
Ines Albrecht
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a big difference between a country and a state of a country. Sadly your comment is a great example for the ignorance of too much US-Americans all over the internet

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

Well it looks like the slim majority got it right. I'd like to see what happens if you use a map of the world instead of just Europe.

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Claudia van Tellingen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a tv program in the Netherlands about 20 years ago and people on holiday had to point on a map where they were (just the country). So many people had no idea where they were. It was Dutch people on holiday in Europe.

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

Fair enough, knowing some years ago many had a problem with pointing at their own capital.

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contact_213 avatar
APL
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nevada is not an individual country. 90% of Europeans could point to the USA on a map. Be less dumb.

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Trees
Community Member
1 year ago

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If it was this map - okay. If it was a world map, it would be all over the place.

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

It's actually not too bad. I expected a lot worse. I'm an American and honestly I wouldn't have been able to decide which was Ukraine and which was Belarus given 10 seconds.

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Years later, when Melih was 16 or 17, he saw all these mappers on Instagram and he thought he could do that too, but better. So he wanted a page to share his “own map style and not just stolen maps from Reddit. I wanted to entertain people and educate them at the same time by making maps more fun.”

Recently, Melih has noticed maps popping up everywhere online since 2016. He believes that now younger folks are being targeted with cartography.“I am trying to select maps people will look at without just scrolling. It needs to be interesting and fun but it also needs to be based on reliable sources. So I try to share maps with the combination of these 2 things, the maps that are fun and come from reliable sources.”

#10

This Post Shows The Countries That Are The Opposite Of Each Other When It Comes To Random Aspects In 2021

This Post Shows The Countries That Are The Opposite Of Each Other When It Comes To Random Aspects In 2021

loverofgeography Report

#11

This Post Shows Some Controversial Statistic In Europe And It's Surrounding Areas

This Post Shows Some Controversial Statistic In Europe And It's Surrounding Areas

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

I'm more shocked by the fact that Iceland has made it's way in between France and Spain.

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#12

This Post Shows The Conflict Between Ukraine And Russia Which We Of Course All Have Heard About Recently

This Post Shows The Conflict Between Ukraine And Russia Which We Of Course All Have Heard About Recently

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

Hungary is not absolutely correct. Yet. We, Hungarians think that Viktor Orban actually supports Putin, that's why he acts like that, but he still wants to get money from EU. We hope this will change in 2 days finally, because Hungarian people stand with Ukraine <3

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Melih also added that sometimes he uses hot topics to gain more audience, “For example, during the World Cup, I made more football-related posts.”When asked whether he ever experiments with the design and style of his maps, Melih said that he indeed has done multiple experiments with the design but he prefers to stick with one style. “So my page will be more recognizable as if it's my own brand,” he said and added that “I tend to go for a minimalist look because it's easier to look at and understand what's going on on the map.”

#13

This Post Shows What Was Searched More In 2021

This Post Shows What Was Searched More In 2021

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sanchit-mit2006 avatar
Ladies and Gentlemen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pardon me but i had to google search what is Hentai, now I regret it. Dont do it if you are at office or a public place.

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#14

This Post Shows The Countries That Are The Most Willing To Fight For Their Own Country In A War

This Post Shows The Countries That Are The Most Willing To Fight For Their Own Country In A War

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jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All we need is for everyone to refuse to fight and suddenly all those old men in comfortable rooms somewhere will not be able to destroy other lives.

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#15

This Post Shows The Average Age Women Get Married In Europe. Based On Data From 2019-2021

This Post Shows The Average Age Women Get Married In Europe. Based On Data From 2019-2021

loverofgeography Report

#16

This Post Shows The Countries With The Highest Quality Of Life In 2021

This Post Shows The Countries With The Highest Quality Of Life In 2021

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

Is it really the flag of USA? I would like to know who they get this results

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#17

This Post Shows The Scariest Things In European Countries Obviously It's Not Meant To Be Taken Serious

This Post Shows The Scariest Things In European Countries Obviously It's Not Meant To Be Taken Serious

loverofgeography Report

#18

This Post Shows Which Countries Europeans Joke The Most About. The Flag On The Country Shows The Country They Joke The Most About

This Post Shows Which Countries Europeans Joke The Most About. The Flag On The Country Shows The Country They Joke The Most About

loverofgeography Report

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de-pieter-baan avatar
User# 6
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So Italians joke about... Italians? Interesting. Also, slightly odd Scottish enclave in Hungary... what did the Scots do to them?

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#19

This Post Shows What Traditional Breakfasts Around The World Typically Are Sweet vs. Salty

This Post Shows What Traditional Breakfasts Around The World Typically Are Sweet vs. Salty

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

Sweet breakfast seems to be only popular in countries that speak a Romance language.

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#20

This Post Shows Which Specific Group Faces The Most Discrimination In Different Countries In Europe

This Post Shows Which Specific Group Faces The Most Discrimination In Different Countries In Europe

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#21

This Post Shows The Estimated Percentage Of The Population Of Countries That Are Identified As An Atheist Or Agnostic

This Post Shows The Estimated Percentage Of The Population Of Countries That Are Identified As An Atheist Or Agnostic

loverofgeography Report

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

Data out of date. Now there are 11% of atheists in Poland. https://ciekaweliczby.pl/kosciol_polityka_sondaz/

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#22

This Post Shows At What Age Europeans Leave Their Nest On Average In 2021

This Post Shows At What Age Europeans Leave Their Nest On Average In 2021

loverofgeography Report

#23

This Post Shows The Air Quality Of Europe In From Statistics Based On 2010-2021

This Post Shows The Air Quality Of Europe In From Statistics Based On 2010-2021

loverofgeography Report

#24

This Post Shows Countries That Have Never Reached 45 50 Or 55 Degrees

This Post Shows Countries That Have Never Reached 45 50 Or 55 Degrees

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#25

This Post Shows How Much Snow Does It Take For Schools To Be Cancelled Estimated

This Post Shows How Much Snow Does It Take For Schools To Be Cancelled Estimated

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

Haha they don't even need sweden on this map, I've never ever been excused from school or work due to snow, and we've definitely had worse than 40+ cm

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#26

This Post Shows The Sport People Do The Most For Fun Or Basically Is One The Most Popular Sports To Do In That Country (Football/Soccer Not Included) Otherwise This Would Be A Boring

This Post Shows The Sport People Do The Most For Fun Or Basically Is One The Most Popular Sports To Do In That Country (Football/Soccer Not Included) Otherwise This Would Be A Boring

loverofgeography Report

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nathaniel avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is daft, but I just imagined Ireland's sport was them facing each other and yelling "GAA!".

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#27

This Post Shows The Average Price In Euros Of The Monthly Rent Of A 1 Bedroom Apartment Located In The City Centre Of Each Capital City Of The Countries On This Map

This Post Shows The Average Price In Euros Of The Monthly Rent Of A 1 Bedroom Apartment Located In The City Centre Of Each Capital City Of The Countries On This Map

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rhodaguirreparras avatar
Pittsburgh rare
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now do one comparing those figures with the average salary and see the map change. *Cries in Spain*

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#28

This Post Shows How People Around The World Prefer Their French Fries To Be Eaten

This Post Shows How People Around The World Prefer Their French Fries To Be Eaten

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#29

This Post Shows The Literal Meaning Of Country Names

This Post Shows The Literal Meaning Of Country Names

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

What does that even mean? France is named that way because it was the"land of the Franks". Franks were the tribes that were there so long ago.

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#30

This Post Shows The Coldest Temperatures In Celsius That Have Ever Been Measured. Note That The Russian Temperature Was Measured In Siberia Asia

This Post Shows The Coldest Temperatures In Celsius That Have Ever Been Measured. Note That The Russian Temperature Was Measured In Siberia Asia

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jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm fine with C and F, until it gets in the negatives, and then I really have no idea what C temps are.

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Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.