The sacrifices made by Magellan, Columbus, and Marco Polo have not gone in vain. No previous epoche of history has ever made it easier to navigate uncharted territory. Thanks to the launch of the GPS project in 1973 by the United States, traveling has been reduced to inputting addresses and getting up-to-the-minute information on travel time, traffic, and even the best course of travel.
Cartography still holds a valuable place amongst data studies, since it can still provide us with information not relative to global positioning. The following 25 maps present us with miscellaneous information that will have us remembering the good ol’ times of geography class. Get your protractors and magnifying glasses ready cause this voyage is taking off far across the seas!
1) Lithuania Has Made A Map With Magnets Found Only In Corresponding Cities
If you’re a maniac for magnets then this map is more than ideal. The magnets compose the shape of the country and makes for a colorful design on any fridge. Lituania went ahead with this move in hopes of increasing local tourism.
2) Occupied Bald Eagle Nests In Wisconsin 1974 vs 2019
This map shows the incredible growth of bald eagle nests from 1974 to 2019. A large part attributing to their growth was the expansion of the Clean Water Act which helped set wastewater standards for industry. Since it has helped clean out many polluted areas, the eagles have been able to fly in search of more food, thus giving them confidence to lay their nesting grounds in areas with a thriving food source.
3) An Eagle Being Tracked For A Period Of 20 Years
Now this eagle has gone places! It seems there are no visas or travel restrictions when you can flap your wings and fly freely to any place you desire. It’s going to have plenty of bedtime stories ready for its kin when its ready to settle down.
This map hilariously shows the stereotypes of how bands feel when performing on tour. There is some harsh disregard for some of the more interesting places out there, but this is the stereotype you get when you’re an ego-centric band that stereotypes America as the center of the world. Hopefully, this perspective changes and bands get the courage to perform elsewhere, since these fans really do have so much to offer.
Japan’s size could easily fool you unless you compare it in this fashion. Its incredible length covers the distance from as far south as the tip of Cuba’s northern shore, to as far north as the waterway between Maine and Nova Scotia! That’s truly remarkable considering most of us think of Japan as a small island in the Pacific.
Not exactly the kind of map you want to use when getting acquainted with the world. It almost looks like a big blue soup that’s swirling around constantly. Just because it’s 2020 doesn’t mean Pangea caused New Zealand to be the epicenter of our globe.
For all you cheeseheads out there, here’s the ultimate guide: a map specifically showing where you can find the best cheeses in Europe. Never again will you have any doubt about where to find that sharp manchego cheese or even world-famous brie cheese. Next time you travel to Europe, make sure to take a peek at this informational guide to all your cheese fantasies!
Here’s a quick stat breakdown while giving you some eye candy. This map is especially cool for those geography buffs trying to study population densities across the world. The colors do a nice job for observers to easily see each section with their respective countries.
9) The United States Of America: Alaskan Perspective
Alaska was ratified as the 49th state and nicknamed “The Last Frontier.” It’s harsh, yet pristine wilderness has garnered recognition from naturalists all over. This map shows it’s hearty size and welcomes anyone trying to venture into it’s untamed lands.
This is head-scratching, to say the least. As it turns out, most of the Canadian population inhabits the North-East region or North America. But half of the population? That’s truly a remarkable fact given Canada’s girthy size.
11) List Of Countries Mentioned Or Referred To In The Bible
For those trying to gain a bit of religious insight, it seems the Bible has mentioned only the red-highlighted countries featured on this map. The Fertile Crescent is indeed the main setting for most of the stories, along with some countries in North/North-East Africa, Western Europe, and South Asia. We’ve come a long way as humans since the days of the Old World, and this is definitely proof to show of our humble beginnings before the Age of Exploration.
If only this project would’ve made its way into existence. Sometimes we can only draw lines and dream. Regardless, at least someone drew the blueprint for this idea, so hopefully, talented engineers can get together one day and turn this into a reality.
13) Locations Of Penguins Found Naturally In The World
This map highlights the importance of preserving penguins worldwide. Their homes are becoming scarce, as they mainly dwell in the South Pole. If you travel to places such as the Andres mountain trail or even South Africa, make sure to wave out to these waddling friends.
The cool 3-D rendering really brings out western Europe’s distinct flora and fauna. The lush arbor decorating its lands attract many people to come enjoy its nature. Whether you come for the cheese or the architecture, be sure to try backpacking in Europe some time!
For all those who didn’t know, Australia really is that big. The country (and basically continent) is mainly comprised of the Outback, which is considered one of the most dangerous and primitive natural regions in the world. This also highlights the United States as a ridiculously large country, although most of us tend to bottle ourselves in the comfort of our home state.
No, this is not a James Pollock impression. It’s actually a very colorful representation of animals traversing the land to get to their destinations. Most of the path in the U.S. focuses along the Appalachian trail where many forms of life migrate due to the scarcity of food in the north.
17) World’s Smallest Country Compared With Largest Building
This is a size comparison of the smallest city, the Vatican City, with the largest building by footprint, the Aalsmeer Flower Auction. Just imagine having to social distance in the Vatican City where it’s only 0.44 sq km in the area compared to .52 sq km of the building. Maps really do bring out the absurdity of how we as a human race decide whose land belongs to who.
18) The Surface Of Mars If 71% Of Surface Area Was Covered By Water
For all the space geeks out there, make sure to check out this awesome version of Mars covered in water. The gaseous green you see is the land that would remain afloat. Better claim your real estate fast before property taxes go up in 2035!
19) Europe-U.S. Superhighway Proposed By The Former President Of Russian Railways
This would’ve been the best thing invented since sliced bread. The capabilities of this mode of transport would definitely increase international travel and trade to new heights never before seen. Can you imagine having breakfast in Times Square and later having dinner by the Big Ben clocktower in London?
This one is a bit sad once you realize this was due to war and genocide. In only 200 years a lot has drastically changed with the native Irish tongue. A constant reminder that maps can show us a glimpse of the past and how far we’ve come after those events. In truth, they act like history lessons waiting to be uncovered by our naked eye.
Eye-opening should be the header for this map. The dark, fume looking clouds represent more concentrated CO emissions that are contributing to the disintegration of the ozone layer. China looks to be one of the countries needing to restructure their industries in order to minimize on some of the extremely large concentrations coming out of the country.
22) Locations Johnny Cash Claims To Have Been In “I’ve Been Everywhere”
Johnny Cash is a man of many myths, but one that caught our eye is all the amazing places he’s claimed to have been. The man is truly from a different era and this is just more reason to add to his great legacy. The one place he seemed to miss was none other than the beautiful state of Montana!
Maps tend to show very revealing things about particular places. This one is no exception as it displays the tea routes used by China during the Silk Roads. One thing to note: Portugal didn’t receive it’s tea by land, but rather via sea!
A good way to represent the modern advancement of technology in our transportation systems. North America and Australia have a lot to learn, while Europe and South East Asia have this rail business down pack. This is another example of how maps can be utilized to show different frameworks that affect societies across landscapes.
This is a simple way of displaying pedestrian traffic across Europe. People tend to be moving more westerly if you look at the map in broader terms. The real question: is anyone moving at all in Poland? The only way to find out is by going and seeing for yourself!
It’s amazing what you’ll notice when you open your eyes and view the world from a different perspective. That’s what these people found out. Their comparison photos examining the differences and similarities between things will blow your mind.
By looking at two items beside one another, they made some pretty fascinating realizations. Sometimes, it has to do with landscape changes across different seasons. Other times, it is related to people. For example, the mom who matched her face up with her daughter’s and realized that they were pretty much identical twins.
In the moment, one might never notice these sorts of things, but viewing the photos side by side helps to provide contrast and prime our minds for new realizations. Once you see the images for yourself, you’ll understand what we mean.
This sign can be found at a ski resort in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The photos show what it looks like in the summer versus the winter. It makes you appreciate how much snow they really get out there.
The first photo is what the dog looks like on the way to the lake. The second photo is what he looks like on the car ride home. He is completely exhausted after a long day of playing!
The giant ship in the back belongs to Chinese explorer Zheng. At the same time he was out sailing the world, so was Christopher Columbus. Columbus’s tiny ship named Santa Maria can be seen in the front. The difference between the two is astounding.
This photo shows four different paintings made by each of the mom’s four kids. Upon turning five years old, the mom had each of them paint the same sunflower. Each of the kids represented the flower very differently.
This slide from a university class describes the differences between urban, suburban, and rural living. We never thought of our environment in the context of public nudity like this professor did, but there is definitely some truth to his arguments.
These pictures were only taken one week apart. It’s amazing how fast the leaves can change in the fall. They went from light green to a brilliant red within seven short days.
The top photo shows the dog’s expression when he was first adopted back in 2012. Now, years later, he is like a completely different dog. He is so much happier and full of energy.
The boy has gotten a lot older, but he still has the same goofy grin. On the left is him on his first day of primary school. The image on right is him on his last day of teacher training.
Noah started as a cancer patient. Now he is a cancer survivor. It brings us so much joy to see him healthy again, and the whole time, his beautiful smile never changed.
“I did a half face comparison of myself and my daughter today, it’s kind of freaky,” explains the mom. The similarities are striking. The facial features between the mom and daughter line up perfectly.
We always knew that dolphins were incredibly intelligent, but seeing a dolphin’s brain compared a shark’s is especially illuminating. It’s one of the most interesting science museum exhibits that we’ve ever seen.
We often forget that different species’ eyes work differently. For example, birds can see ultraviolet light, while humans can’t. Many parts of their life are much more colorful than ours.
This is an image of Berlin, Germany viewed from space at night. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, each half of the city used a different type of lightbulb. It’s been over 25 years and the difference is still visible.
Want to know how big the trucks really are at quarries? Look no further than this photo. There is a full-sized school bus driving by the machines. It looks miniature in comparison.
Video game graphics have changed a lot over the years. Just have a look at the differences in these popular games. The originals are insanely simple compared to the newer versions.
Here is a then and now photo from World War II taken on the same street 72 years later. There were soldiers and tanks running around the dusty alleys during the war, but looking at the area now, you would never guess.
This is the world’s smallest computer sitting next to a grain of rice. If you were to look at the computer with your naked eye, it would be barely visible. That’s how incredibly complex computer technology is getting these days.
Here we have a “side by side comparison of the papal thrones for Benedict XVI and Francis”. One is very luxurious and the other is not. Both pictures were taken on the day that the men were appointed pope.
On the left is Barcelona, Spain in the daytime. It is lined up with a photo of the same part of the city at night. It’s pretty cool. The nighttime shot looks like the city is on fire.
Wolfdogs have a lot of variation based on the percent of each species that they have in their genome. One is 98% wolf, while the other is only 40%. The 98% one looks a lot more mangy and wild.
The apartment on the left has smokers living in it. The blinds are completely stained yellow from the cigarettes. The apartment on the right is filled with non-smokers.
Human domestication of plants is really having a big effect on the plants’ properties. The first tomato is a modern one. The second was grown from 150-year-old seeds. It is a tomato in its natural state.
The happy face is when the owners are coming home. The sad face is when the owners are leaving. So much of a dog’s mood depends on the presence of the humans that they love.
Here we have another great reason to stop smoking. The ceiling tiles in the smoking room of the airport are disgusting in comparison to the ceiling tiles outside. We can only imagine what smokers’ lungs must look like.
This dog is super fun to be around at the beach. The pup is in her element. However, when she gets home and has to have her feet cleaned, her mood completely changes.
The candle on the left is what a normal candle looks like burning on earth. The one on the right is a candle burning in microgravity on the International Space Station. In low gravity environments, the flame doesn’t really rise at all.
This is actually just one photo. The photographer caught someone else’s flash in the shot while they were taking it. It made it so the snow only showed up in half of it.
These two friends are both 13 years old. However, their height couldn’t be more different. The one kid is practically a giant in comparison. It’s obvious that he hit puberty first.
The first photo was taken in front of a liquor store. The second was taken at an eye surgery center. It turns out, both parking lots are frequently visited by people who have trouble driving safely.
Different cat breeds can vary a lot in size. For example, here we have a Maine Coon and an American Shorthair cat. The one cat could literally eat the other one.
These two were photographed while taking a nap together. The photo at the start of the nap is pretty normal. However, as the nap goes on, they both get more and more comfortable.
In 1990, every electronic item had one purpose. Now, almost 30 years later, all you need is a smartphone. A smartphone has all of the capabilities of the old devices and more packed into one tiny pocket-sized device.
The photo on the left was taken on the woman’s wedding day. The photo on the right is when she met famous actor Rob Lowe. There is a big difference in her excitement levels.
This photographer took a photo of the same bull five years apart. It’s at a ranch that he visits in Texas. The bull has grown a lot over the years, but it’s still happily grazing away.
The B-2 Bomber design was based on the shape of the Peregrine Falcon. The aerodynamic properties of the bird were modeled in the aircraft. It’s crazy how similar they look.
These pictures clearly illustrate the difference between moms and dads. The mom accompanies the toddler the whole way down the slide. The dad simply races to catch up.
The first image shows what the Arctic polar region used looked like. The second shows the same spot 103 years later. The ice caps and snow have all but disappeared.
This family has two skinny cats and one fat one. They let all three of them run around outside in the snow. Can you tell which tracks belong to the fat cat?
At Target, a pack of twelve pieces of chalk is being sold for 99 cents. At the college bookstore, it is priced at almost twelve dollars. That is one dollar per piece of chalk!
The one Corgi is very fluffy. The other has a smoother shorter-haired coat. It just goes to show that even within the same breed, dogs can be very different.
You definitely wouldn’t want to leave your boat sitting around all day at this dock. When the tide goes out, the scenery looks very different. The two photos were taken twelve hours apart.
This photo shows a human skeleton compared to a gorilla skeleton. They are surprisingly similar. Although, there are plenty of interesting differences as well.
This father and son photo proves that genetics isn’t always a clear cut thing. Just because your dad is short doesn’t mean you are going to be short, and vice versa. There are a lot of factors.
This person lives next to the ocean. The difference between the doorknob on the outside of their home versus the inside is pretty shocking. Saltwater is highly corrosive and ends up in the air and rain.
The women on the outside of the photo are women’s basketball players. In between them are the team’s cheerleaders. The height difference between the two groups is unbelievable.
This photo is fascinating. It shows the different claw sizes of various types of animal. The most interesting part is how harpy eagle claws are almost as big as the bear claws.
In this comparison, we see an elephant foot versus a human foot. It’s pretty surprising. The elephants actually have bones like we do. However, they are buried deep underneath many layers of soft cartilage.
This is what a bee stinger and needle look like under a microscope. The needle is fatter and more pointed. The bee stinger is much more slender with a serrated edge.
This is “the difference between 31 and 21,” explains the woman. She is still sober and functioning on her night out, while the younger woman is lying on the ground next to the toilet vomiting.
This person was fascinated by the glass of water that they poured. They filled up the bottom of the glass with tap water. Then poured sparkling water on top. The two liquids stayed separated.
Dwayne Johnson is 6’4″ and weighs 260 pounds. We’ve always considered him to be a very big and muscular man but just look at him next to Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. He doesn’t even compare.
On the left is what Norwegian soldiers looked like 75 years ago. On the right is what they look like now. They went from a jacket, a hood, and a handgun to full-on tactical gear.
In this photo, we can see the massive difference between types of light bulbs. On the left, the streetlights use new LEDs, whereas, on the right, they are the old kind.
Here we have a sign comparing Japan’s highest bridge to the height of Godzilla. It is a weird comparison to make, but also hilarious. We think that all heights should be measured in comparison to Godzilla.
This is what the lake in Michigan looks like at 9:00 am versus 11:00 am. The fog rolls in thick and heavy in the morning. You can’t see anything, but just a few hours later, it’s like it never happened.
After hurricane Florence hit a few years ago, the damage was immense. Just have a look at this before and after picture of a street in Surf City, North Carolina. The surrounding landscape and roads basically didn’t exist afterward.
The weather changes quickly in Utah. That’s what these images show. One day, everything is completely covered in snow, and the next, it is completely melted off. It’s pretty crazy.
In Girls’ Life magazine, all they talk about is hair, fashion, and beauty. In Boy’s Life magazine, it’s more about career planning and science. It’s certainly a big difference.
“Whenever somebody posts a photo of the Milky Way, people invariably ask ‘is that how you see it with the naked eye?’. Here’s a representation of what you do see compared to what comes out of the camera,” the photographer explains. The moral of the story is that the night sky is best viewed in person!
These two shoppers are about to experience two very different nights. The single man will be feasting on chicken and drinking whiskey for Valentine’s day, while the other shopper will be celebrating it with a loving partner.
It’s hard to fathom how big the earth is, but this image does a great job at providing some points of reference. It shows all of the earth’s water and air condensed into balls and placed next to our giant planet.
This one is a comparison between a Tyrannosaurus Rex foot and an emu foot. The dinosaur’s foot is a lot bigger, but structurally, they look about the same. Birds are closely related to the ancient reptiles.
The set of stairs that is crumbling was built out of stones in 1829. The nicer set was built in 2005 from cement. We can clearly see how things have changed over time.
In the front, we can see the Titanic. In its heyday, it was celebrated for its incredible size. Yet, it is just a fraction of the size of the modern cruise ships today. Behind the Titanic is a picture of the largest cruise ship that currently exists.
On the top is a photo of a normal day in California. On the bottom is what the same view looks like when all of the wildfires are burning. The recent fires in the state are a huge cause for concern.
Michelin makes a lot of different sizes of tires. Some are even larger than people are. For example, here is their biggest tire placed next to their smallest tire.
Motorola flip phones used to be all the rage back in the 90s and early 2000s. This one was crafted in 1998. The current smartphones make the old ones look so primitive.
This photo shows the volume difference of a small versus a medium orange juice at McDonald’s. The most interesting part? There is essentially no difference…
These door handles show how many right-handed people there are at the school compared to left-handed people. The door on the right gets a lot more use. Although, part of that is because it is also a social norm to enter through the right.
This diagram shows “Russia and Bangladesh’s sizes compared to their population”. Bangladesh actually has more people living in the country than Russia. However, its total land area is tiny in comparison.
There is a giant market for toy lightsabers and the quality varies significantly. On the left is a lightsaber that costs $10. On the right is one that costs $400.
He’s a husband and father first, but he’s also a funny comedy video creator. This New Zealand dad creates entertaining videos that get lots of hits because they’re downright hilarious. Jordan Watson shares parenting tips and tricks on his youtube page, with a great tongue in cheek style, that other dads (or anyone who takes care of kids) can relate to. Each video has his comedic sense of humor with a deadpan delivery, as he parodies the “how-to” videos that are popular on the internet.
Jordan Watson, from Aukland, New Zealand is a part-time landscaper, full-time dad, and viral video creator.
His first video was just a goof he put together when he was left alone with his baby, Alba. The video is titled, “How to Hold a Baby” and is currently at 3.7 million views. And that’s not even his most-watched video.
In an interview with Stuff, Watson still can’t believe the video went viral overnight,
“It was just me cutting together, in my eyes, crap – just me being an idiot and thinking that one guy at work’s going to like it.”
“Every parent can kind of relate, and there’s so many people out there who’re aunties, uncles, they look after people’s kids… It’s just everyday scenarios with kids which has given me the inspiration for it.”
Jordan always wears his trademark shirt and shorts or as they’re called in New Zealand, Togs.
In this video, which currently has over four million views, Jordan offers his own witty advice on how to put a baby to sleep. He lists and demonstrates a number of techniques, all with a deadpan delivery that only Jordan can muster.
Some examples are “The Hypnotist,” where dad dangles a nearby toy in front of the baby and coaxes her to sleep.
The funny thing about this video is that the real star is not Jordan.
No, it’s his baby daughter, Alba. She is such an integral part of the humor, because nearly every time Dad tries his methods, they work. The little one lays down to go to sleep, and her comedic timing is perfect. Dad administers the technique, Alba listens, and then to our rousing laughter, she complies. Leaving Jordan to say,
“It’s never really that easy.”
In Stuff, Jordan had this to say about his daughter,
“I think if you take Alba the cute baby out of it, they’re not going to do very well – it’s definitely 99 percent her, 1 percent me.”
Get ready to laugh with this video. And prepare to go down the rabbit hole as “How To Dad,” Jordan Watson, has an ever-growing collection of funny videos. He feeds his followers a video a week, and probably feeds his charming family with the proceeds.
All in, he’s a really great husband and father, enjoy his funny “how-to” below!
So when one restaurant in Thailand opened its doors for the first time in months, they had some obstacles to overcome.
Maison Saigon, a Vietnamese restaurant in Bangkok, originally planned on having only one chair at each table to promote social distancing according to Insider.
But that just wasn’t cutting it.
When the owner, Natthwut Rodchanapanthkul, saw what the restaurant looked like with only one chair per table, he wasn’t satisfied.
He told reports at Reuters, “Earlier we had only one chair for the tables where the customer came alone. But for me, it felt strange, so I thought I’d give them some company.”
But how do you give someone company at a table when you aren’t supposed to be anywhere near each other?
One customer told Reuters, “The doll makes me feel less lonely eating by myself.”
Another customer explained that the stuffed animals not only improved the vibe of the place, but it made seating arrangements more clear as well.
He told reporters, “It’s a lot easier to understand compared to other restaurants where people always get confused about where to sit and end up sitting too close to each other.”
