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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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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."

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Aaron W
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dammit, I'm going to see this every time I look at a US map now. Thanks, Bored Panda.

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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."

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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!

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Kesam
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm an immigrant in "aesthetically tasteless" country and I totally agree! :D

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Kesam
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always knew Brazilians are brainy. (But wait, what does that make northwestern Canada??)

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Shelp
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Belgium imports a lot of electricity from France. I wouldn't be surprised if this particular power plant mainly produced electricity for the Belgian market

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karla Meixnerová
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No surprise, if the person with this opinion is a believer, that the Earth is flat...

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Rabbit Carrot
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah. We see a giant a*s bible for most of those middle states. Oh and guns. Lots and lots of guns.

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Sadie Shapiro
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i don't even want to try saying that one. you know which one I'm talking about.

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Jayne Kyra
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

According to my dots in MS Paint over each: 132. Might be wrong, but I am not doing it again. EDIT: Did it again and Beto River is right, I missed 10 at some point. Thank you Beto!

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Oathbraker
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand mistaking it with Iraq or Afghanistan, but how the f**k did they go to Africa and the Balkans? A couple are even in the UK, for crying out loud.

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

People have straight up pointed towards the ocean and you are surprised about Africa?

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Kim
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then again, I'm European and would do HORRIBLY at identifying the different states in America.

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

This is about a country, not individual states. I don't think I could identify any Iranian provinces on a map but I could as sure as hell find Iran. :)

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ambroise-lescop-2 avatar
Shelp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn't even the complete map. Some of them pointed the US territory

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

How could they mess that up? It says "Iran" right on the country.

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

Yeah, sure. I remember a poll that once made the news. It was something about how over 60% of Americans believed they'd been abducted by aliens. I decided to do a little research. The Americans polled? They were 300 college students.

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

So we are relying on unverifiable internet surveys now?

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

I'm surprised about the dots in India. It is a really big, recognizable country. (With great food!)

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Daria B
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3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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

How do u mistake it for Ireland or the UK or most of europe???

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

I wish the map showed Canada, you just know there is that one guy.

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

I saw a map with essentially a challenge to place all the countries that end in 'stan.'

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

The best are the ones who pointed to the ocean. Lolll!

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

Was this like a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey??? I mean seriously?? I'm a travel agent, so I know my geography, but SERIOUSLY!!! Iran is NOT is the Mediterranean Sea!! OR Europe!! Or Russia for f**k's sake! This is why our education is on par with 3rd world countries!

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

honestly, the way the propaganda machines known as American collages teach nothing now but social justice, it's not a surprise that most of us don't know anything useful.

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

The wonders of the American Educational system. Gawd, are we ever stupid. :-(

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Nothanks L. Walk
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay this is clearly misrepresenting the facts. I demand to know how many of them pointed inside US states. xD

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

Any surprise???? All these countri and the world knows how ignorant are USA citizens!! AMERICA is a continent, NOT the USA!!!!

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

Only because 28% have actually been in these regions. And once you fly close to the Iranian border, you know because they start making all kinds of preps and giving out warnings of the plane may experience "turbulence". When you have been there, you know.

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

Our education system sux rox and Devos is NOT helping the problem.

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

I saw a video on TV of a reporter stopping kids 21 & younger to show him on the map he had where England was, it looked like this. We are done for!

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

I fear for these people, but it explains the problem of getting on top of covid .😥

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

This is too sad. Geography was my favorite class when I was a kid, 1000 years ago. I still know the main export of Bolivia was tin. Now it is probably oil. Our book had great photos, too! Teachers in the US are really stupid, it seems. Always wondered about some of them.

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Mumof1
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is because Americans are among the least travelled people on the planet. They can't see beyond their own borders, and some have never even seen the sea! Same in Canada.

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

And 36% of Americans thought the United Kingdom was in the Middle East !!!

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

There are no bounds to human folly, and sadly not just in the USA. We're just too comfortable in our ignorance to trouble ourselves to learn something new, it's easier to watch tv

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

egypte? france? and Italy? come on… that the first country we learn in school! that's the easiest one to find!

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

Hooray! Nine out of some hundreds of Americans think I'm living in Iran. Nine million Austrians disagree.

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

If they had been asked to point to 'I' ran they would have fared better

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

You get the same results if you only ask American bomber pilots.

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

One of them was president and planning to send a bomb there. That's why they preferred telling him to shut the f*ck up.

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Note: this post originally had 150 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.