Map: Is California an island? Cartographic mistakes from history. California was born a fiction: named after a made-up island the name of which could be translated as 'caliphate'.For centuries, California was a cartographic fiction as well: it was shown as an island until as late as 1865.Over 40 years, Glen McLaughlin dug up more than 700 maps of California as an island – the world's biggest collection on cartography's most persistent mistake. A nameless peninsula Detail of an early woodcut world map by Francisco Lopez de Gomara (Zaragoza, 1553). The oldest map in the McLaughlin Collection, it shows California nameless for now, but with its correct, peninsular shape. In 1971, Glen McLaughlin came across a strange map in a London map shop. Americæ Nova Descriptio, produced by Anne Seile (1) in 1663, showed California as a big, carrot-shaped island, floating off the coast of North America. McLaughlin, a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, bought the map and hung it on a wall at home.
First mention Indeed, in more ways than one, California is a one-off. Atlasobscura. Forgotten Wrecks of the First World War Interactive map - HeritageDaily - Archaeology News. Map Of The 53 Countries That Ban The Corporal Punishment Of Children. An Incredibly Detailed Map Of Medieval Trade Routes. Brilliant Maps - Making Sense Of The World, One Map At A Time. Relatively Interesting North American Cities Transposed Onto Europe at the Same Latitude (and vice versa) - Relatively Interesting.
Quick: do you think Montreal, Canada, is north or south of Paris, France? Which is further north: London, England, or Calgary, Alberta? It’s hard to tell. But if you were to illustrate the relative latitudes of European and North American cities by transposing them on the opposite continent, you could easily find out. That’s exactly what Beardsley Klamm did over on metafilter, which eventually found its way onto one of our favorite sites, Brilliant Maps.
Click the maps below to see a high resolution version: Click to see a clear view of the map. Now, even though Calgary is south of London, London has far more consistently warmer weather. And here’s what a map of transposed South American and Australian cities look like on opposite continents. Sources:Article idea: Brilliant Maps Maps created by Beardsley Klamm via metafilter and Reddit user Yearlaren, respectively. London’s Plague Pits Map Shows Where the Black Death Got Buried. There was no time for proper funerals during the Great Plague of the 1660s. (Image: Detail from painting by Rita Greer/Wikipedia) Subterranean London is a crowded space. There's the London Underground, Joseph Bazalgette's sewer system, buried waterways like the River Fleet and the River Effra, and the Churchill War Rooms. And then there are all the diseased bodies tangled together in mass graves. Beneath the city are the remains of thousands of people who perished in the Great Plague of 1664 to 1666—the last major bubonic plague epidemic in London.
During this scourge, which killed an estimated 100,000, or a quarter of London's population, piles of bodies were tossed into deep pits in unconsecrated ground. The corpses consigned to plague pits were destined for anonymity. Initially, authorities wanted these pits left undisturbed. Enter the plague pit map. Screenshot of Historic UK's plague pit map (Historic UK) Watch where you step on Pitfield Street in Hoxton. Plague Pits in London | Interactive Map | Historic UK. Overcrowded, dirty and awash with sewage... it's hardly surprising that the bubonic plague flourished in the crowded streets of London.
Over 15% of London's population was wiped out between 1665 and 1666 alone, or some 100,000 people in the space of two years. But where did all these bodies go? The answer: in tens, if not hundreds of plague pits scattered across the city and the surrounding countryside. The majority of these sites were originally in the grounds of churches, but as the body count grew and the graveyards became overcharged with dead, then dedicated pits were hastily constructed around the fields surrounding London. Unfortunately there is very little evidence about the exact location of these plague pits. The map below is an ongoing project and we're always in search of new sites, so if you know of any omissions then please let us know by using the contact form at the bottom of this page. 15 Years Of Terror - Map Of Terrorist Incidents Since 2000.
Map and video created by Milan R. Vuckovic The map above shows global terrorist attacks with more than 20 fatalities over the last 15 years. While there have been several tragic attacks in Europe and North America, it’s the people of Asia, Africa and especially the Middle-East who have been the primary victims. In 2014, deaths from terrorism increased by 80% from 2013, with a total of 32,658 victims. 78% of all deaths and 57% of all attacks occurred in just five countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria. With Iraq continuing to be the country most impacted by terrorism with 9,929 terrorist fatalities, the highest ever recorded in a single country.
To understand the timeline of these attacks watch the time-lapse video below: The data for the map and video come from the Global Terrorism database and various media outlets. Mr. Due to the large amount of data used, there are likely to be mistakes (exact chronology, location, casualties etc.). Find this map interesting? Where Americans Are Killed By Guns: US Homicide & Suicide Death Rates.
Distribution of gun related death rates in the US. Source: reddit user shihn According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a total of 33,169 people were killed by guns in the US in 2013. However, the rates at which people were killed by guns varied widely between states and regions. This is clearly demonstrated by the map above. The map originally appeared as part of a Braid’s Gun Violence in America interactive feature. It clearly shows that gun deaths in America tend to cluster heavily in both the South and West of the country and also in Alaska.
With California, Hawaii and the Northeastern and Midwestern states all having relatively lower rates of deaths from guns. Across the country as a whole, the death rate is 10.5 people killed per 100,000 people per year. So even states and regions with relatively low rates by US standards may have rates that are extremely high by international standards. Distribution of gun related homicide rates in the US Find these maps interesting? Top 15 Best Maps Of 2015 (Plus 10 Honourable Mentions) Brilliant Maps is now just over 1 year old. Since launching we’ve made a total of 167 posts. So we thought now was as good a time as any to look back at what the 15 best and most popular maps were for 2015 (based on the number of visitors). If you were one of them, then a huge thank you! It means a huge amount to everyone at Brilliant Maps that you obviously love maps as much as we do. We’re continually doing our best to bring you maps we think tell interesting stories. We’ve obviously gotten that right many times over the past year, but perhaps more interesting are the maps that didn’t quite find an audience.
So to give them one final push, we’ve included 10 honourable mentions at the end of this post as well. Finally, many of the most popular maps of 2015, had their highest traffic month several months after the original post was made. So if you’ve shared any of our maps with a friend an extra special thank you to you! 15. Map created by reddit user scolbert08 14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. Detailed seafloor gravity map brings the Earth's surface into sharp focus.
Not so long ago the ocean floor was as unknown as the far side of the Moon. Now, an international team of scientists is using satellite data to chart the deep ocean by measuring the Earth's gravitational field. The result is a new, highly-detailed map that covers the three-quarters of the Earth's surface that lies underwater.
The map is already providing new insights into global geology. Up until about a hundred years ago, the only way to learn anything about the bottom of the sea was to toss a piece of lead overboard on the end of a line. Measuring the line gave the depth and if you were really sophisticated, you stuck a wad of wax on a depression in the lead to bring up a sample of the bottom. More sophisticated techniques were developed, but at the end of the day, they were just weights and grabs on the end of a very long string. The idea was based on the fact that the Earth's gravitational field is far from uniform. Source: NASA.
Top 15 Best Maps Of 2015 (Plus 10 Honourable Mentions) Relatively Interesting Famous journeys of discovery - Relatively Interesting. Today, travel is easier than at any point in history. With planes flying across the globe, you can book your destination from the comfort of your home and, in many cases, arrive the next day. But it wasn’t always easy to explore the exotic secrets of a land unknown. Explorers and researchers often undertook treacherous voyages; risking their lives (and the lives of their crew) to unlock the secrets of the planet and beyond. From Darwin on board the Beagle, exploring the unique animals of the Galapagos, to the brave men of Apollo 11, travelling where no man had gone before – Just The Flight have gathered 12 of the most “Famous Journeys Of Discovery”. So inspire you wanderlust and explore the paths traveled by these great adventurers, explorers and scientists in the infographic below.
Click on the infographic to see a larger, more legible version. Source: Just The Flight. Soviet World War 3 Plans For Europe. Cities in Central Europe that would be nuked at the beginning of World War III. Found via reddit The map above shows how the Soviet Union thought World War 3 might play out in Europe. The red mushroom clouds represent planned nuclear strikes on cities and targets in central Europe and the blue mushroom clouds represent the anticipated NATO response.
The map was smuggled out by the Polish and delivered to the Americans during the Cold War. It’s based on the premise that NATO ground forces strike first and that the USSR would use its nuclear arsenal to halt, or at least slow their advance. Thankfully this scenario never happened, but it’s a reminder just how close Europe and the World were to total nuclear annihilation, just one generation ago.
If you’re interested in how many times the world was on the brink during the Cold War, you may want to read the following books: Enjoy this post? Map of The Soviet Gulag Archipelago 1923-1961. Map created by Antonu via Wikimedia The map above, shows the locations of the Soviet Union’s Gulag forced labour camps, that existed between 1923 and 1961. This system has also become known as the Gulag Archipelago based on the title of the book written by Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
The term Gulag is an acronym for Гла́вное управле́ние лагере́й (Glavnoye upravleniye lagerey), the “Main Camp Administration”. While the Soviet system of labour camps goes back to 1918, following the Bolshevik revolution, the Gulag camps reached their peak under Stalin from the 1930’s into the 1950’s. The population fell briefly during World War 2, both due to starvation and prisoners being released to fight the Nazis, but it’s been estimated that between 2.3 and 50 million people passed through the system at one point during its existence.
The Gulag system was extremely complex, and goes far beyond the scope of this blog to do it justice. Find this post interesting? An Incredibly Detailed Map of the Roman Empire At Its Height in 211AD. Map created by Sardis Verlag The map above is one of the most detailed and interesting maps of the Roman Empire you’ll likely find online. It shows what the Empire looked like in 211 CE (aka 211 AD) at the end of the reign of Septimius Severus. There lots of really cool things to point out about the map itself. For example: You can see the Hadrian’s Wall and the less famous but more northern Antonine Wall. There are 870 Roman cities and settlements within the Roman Empire and more than 90 cities and settlements outside of the Empire. The headquarters of all 33 active legions. 120,00 km of Roman Roads.
Oh and you can buy a copy here. Why 211 CE? Here are a few close-ups of sections of the maps: The area around Rome (Roma) in Italy. Notice the Roman city of Byzantium. Map of the Caucasus. Britain and Ireland (Britannia & Hibernia) in 211 CE. To learn more about the Roman Empire have a look at: Enjoy these maps? Map of The Unexplored World From 1881. Map found via reddit The map above appeared in Jules Verne’s The Great Explorers of the Nineteenth Century and shows the areas of the world that remained unexplored (to Westerners) in 1881. While all of Europe, Asia and North America had been fully explored by 1881, the interiors of South America, Australia, and Africa had yet to be fully explored and mapped. Moreover, Antarctica and The Arctic were still almost entirely unknown. Keep in mind that when this map was produced, the Berlin Conference, that formalized the Scramble for Africa, was still 3 years in the future.
Finally, there is some debate as to when the the North Pole was reached. You can read the full copy of The Great Explorers of the Nineteenth Century for free on Kindle. To learn more about exploration in the 19th century have a look at the following books: Enjoy this post? The Pan American Highway: The Longest Road In The World. At its fullest extent the Pan-American Highway is a network of roads stretching from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina, a distance of around 48,000 kilometres (30,000 miles).
According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world’s longest “motorable road”. However it is not readily possible to drive all the way since the route is interrupted by the 160 kilometre-wide (100 mile) Darién Gap between Central and South America. The Highway consists of both official and unofficial elements. The official section, which is referred to in Spanish variously as the Autopista / Carretera / Ruta Panamericana, runs from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on the U.S. However, as shown on the map there are extensive unofficial sections to both the north and south of this. The route shown on the map runs through 14 countries: The United States Canada Mexico Guatemala El Salvador Honduras Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama Colombia Ecuador Peru Chile Argentina Principal References: Books:
Nuclear Vs Non-Nuclear Powered Countries: 2016 Facts. The map above shows which countries have operating commercial nuclear power stations and which ones do not as of April, 2016. At last count, 31 countries generate at least some of their electricity needs via nuclear power. Here are 13 interesting facts about these countries and nuclear power. Fact #1: Only 15.5% of UN Member countries generate nuclear power (30 out of 193). Fact #2: Taiwan is the only non-UN member to have commercial nuclear power plants. Fact #3: North Korea is currently the only country known to have nuclear weapons and not have a nuclear power station (Note: Israel does not have any nuclear power plants either, but it has never confirmed whether or not they have nuclear weapons.) Fact #4: In total, 60.3% of the world’s population live in countries with nuclear power stations, but these countries only cover cover 45.5% of the earth’s land area.
Fact #5: 10.9% of the world’s electricity production comes from nuclear. Nuclear Power in Europe Nuclear Power Share of Total. Map of The UK's Electricity Supply System Network Grid. Thin underwater cables hold the internet. See a map of them all. The Incredible Shrinking Aral Sea 1960-2014. Harmonia Macrocosmica — History's Most Beautiful Star Maps. TeleGeography's gorgeous map of the global Internet.
Where North Korea Has Embassies & Who Has Embassies in North Korea. Roman City of Londinium Around AD 200. Map Of The Town of Springfield From The Simpsons. Percentage of Young Adults In Europe, aged 25-34, Who Still Live With Their Parents. The Genetic Map Of Europe. 2nd Largest Nationality Living In Each European Country. Spread of the Words For Tea & Coffee Around the World - MoverDB.com. Baghdad Before & After 2006-2007 Sectarian Violence. US Power Plant Primary Energy Source by 3 Digit Zip Code – MetricMaps. Finally, a World Map That Doesn't Lie - D-brief.
The Shortest Route for Seeing Nearly 50,000 Historic Places in One Trip. Six maps that show the anatomy of America’s vast infrastructure - Washington Post. 16 Best Maps of 2016. US States Overlaid On Areas of Europe With Equal Population - MoverDB.com. Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing To Fight A War For Their Country. European Languages According To The Dutch. Areas of Europe Compared To US States With Equal GDP & Corresponding Cities - MoverDB.com. Five Maps That Will Change How You See the World.