30 Maps So Terrible They’re Good (New Pics)
Since the last time we wrote about Terrible Maps, a project that is dedicated to sharing maps no one asked for or needs, they've kept themselves rather busy. So it's only natural we created a follow-up article about the cartographers who are so bad, they're actually good. After all, what is the Internet for if not to poke fun at politics and our geographical illiteracy?
From hilarious guides on how to find the state of Kentucky to showing how many Switzerlands fit in Brazil, continue scrolling and check out these gems and tell us which one would you hang on your office wall!
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Everyone needs this one printed to show to racist Trumpsters whenever needed.
OK. We can clearly see these are bad maps. But how to know you're looking at a good one? Brant Scheidecker, a sales engineer at Cartegraph, highlighted some of the main essentials for accurate and easily interpretable map use.
"Every map should have a title. It allows the user to assess the purpose of the map quickly; allowing them to determine if it meets their needs," Scheidecker wrote.
Next, origin. A fancy name for a compass or the North arrow. "This allows the user to determine the maps reference to the earth. While most maps these days have North being straight up, occasionally you will encounter a map that has a skewed orientation, perhaps to better fit it on the physical medium it's presented on (i.e. paper), or simply because it’s easier to interact with the map in that orientation."
When it comes to the source, it's a two-fold element. "It allows the map maker to provide the map viewer an idea where the data the map is representing is from; a necessity in determining the accuracy of a map. It also allows the map maker a way to cite the source of their data, avoiding all those pesky cries of plagiarism and the ensuing lawsuits," Scheidecker explained. "You have better uses for your time, like ensuring the rest of the T.O.S.S.L.A.D. elements are on your maps."
Let's not forget the legend (the area where a user can determine what a particular color or symbol represents on the map). "Without a legend, a user cannot successfully interpret what your map is trying to represent, 'Does the red skull and crossbones over my favorite restaurant mean what I think it means?'"
You should also know when was the map that you're analyzing made. If it was created in 1962 and shows commuter levels in Chicago—it might not be such a valid source for the traffic data you are looking for today, unless you are feeling nostalgic, Scheidecker joked.
There you have it. You may now have become a cartographic genius, but you should be able to tell if you're looking at a terrible map or not!
I feel bad about this, but I always forget about the islands between Australia and Japan. I know they are huge and millions of people live there, but still...
WHAT what pizza we have in america is fake!!??, welp i need to try italian pizza to confirm that.
No surprise, if the person with this opinion is a believer, that the Earth is flat...
Nah. We see a giant ass bible for most of those middle states. Oh and guns. Lots and lots of guns.
I'm Hungarian and I just now learn there is a county named after a famous Hungarian statesman O.o
Wait - no answer. I need to count them myself? Turns out I don't care.
If they had been asked to point to 'I' ran they would have fared better
I think Japan's flag makes a good point but the Switserland flag is also a big plus...
Note: this post originally had 150 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I wouldn't call most of these maps terrible. Oddly specific, perhaps, but not terrible. And many of them were downright interesting.
The main reason almost all of these maps are so terrible are the emoji, which (apart from they're extremely annoying) sometimes cover text.
And too small/blurry to read
A lot of face-palm-potential
With all that's going on, I can barely read through an entire news article, but I get through all 150 posts here...What the h*ll is wrong with me!?!?!
I can now recognize Rokas Laurinavičius' posts after the first three entries.
Craig Silberman good
I think most were vert cool, enlightening maps.
I liked the Kentucky one
Many of these maps would only be considered terrible from a geological point of view. A lot of them are demographic which, I find fascinating.
Who writes the headline banners for these items on BP? They range from irritating to inappropriate.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
That your readers are obnoxious, smug, xenophobic, pricks. Where was the 'Countries which don't use the metric system' map to wank themselves into a supercilious stupour over?
Found the anti-intellectual, liberal-hating conservative crusader who’s going to change us all by mocking us...
I don’t often agree with you, Jace, due to your views on religion, but here we are.
I wouldn't call most of these maps terrible. Oddly specific, perhaps, but not terrible. And many of them were downright interesting.
The main reason almost all of these maps are so terrible are the emoji, which (apart from they're extremely annoying) sometimes cover text.
And too small/blurry to read
A lot of face-palm-potential
With all that's going on, I can barely read through an entire news article, but I get through all 150 posts here...What the h*ll is wrong with me!?!?!
I can now recognize Rokas Laurinavičius' posts after the first three entries.
Craig Silberman good
I think most were vert cool, enlightening maps.
I liked the Kentucky one
Many of these maps would only be considered terrible from a geological point of view. A lot of them are demographic which, I find fascinating.
Who writes the headline banners for these items on BP? They range from irritating to inappropriate.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
That your readers are obnoxious, smug, xenophobic, pricks. Where was the 'Countries which don't use the metric system' map to wank themselves into a supercilious stupour over?
Found the anti-intellectual, liberal-hating conservative crusader who’s going to change us all by mocking us...
I don’t often agree with you, Jace, due to your views on religion, but here we are.