Maps: Visualizing the World

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.

This entry was originally posted on Observations Along The Road (on cahighways.org) as this entry by cahwyguy. Although you can comment on DW, please make comments on original post at the Wordpress blog using the link below; you can sign in with your LJ, FB, or a myriad of other accounts. There are currently comments on the Wordpress blog. PS: If you see share buttons above, note that they do not work outside of the Wordpress blog.

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