I’ve always loved maps. Collecting gas station maps got me into my interest in California Highways, and I never need a GPS because I have maps in my head. So whenever I see articles about maps and mapping, they fascinate me. Over lunch, I’d like to share some with you.
Earlier this week, Buzzfeed had a list of “27 pictures that will change how you view the world“. Some of these are particularly enlightening, such as #6, the true size of Africa; #11, If the largest countries had the biggest populations; #20, What the world would look like if all the separatists won; and #27, the population of the United States in units of Canadas.
Yesterday, another collection was posted: 40 maps that help you make sense of the world. Some of these are duplicates of the Buzzfeed list, but a number are new to me: #1, Where Google Street View is Available; #3, The Only 22 Countries in the World Britain Has Not Invaded; #6, Paid Maternal Leave Around the World; #19, Map of Where 29,000 Rubber Duckies Made Landfall After Falling off a Cargo Ship in the Middle of the Pacific Ocean; #24, The Number of Researchers per Million Inhabitants Around the World; #27, Map of the Different Writing Systems; #39, Map of Europe Showing Literal Chinese Translations for Country Names.
The last collection mentioned Google Street View. So for our #3 item (because things always come in 3 or more), here’s a list of 16 amazing places to visit with Google Street View. Of course, the most interesting thing can be found inside a blue police telephone in London.
ETA: Here are 27 linguistic maps of the United States. No wonder we don’t understand each other!
P.S.: Here’s a PS visualization item: An interesting article on the geology made visible by the Sepulveda Pass construction. You’ll never look at the pass the same again.
