Master map maker Mark Monmonier said “Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it’s essential. A map, by its very nature, must distort reality.” We can see one obvious lie in one of the most famous maps, the Mercator projection of the globe, which radically distorts the sizes of countries the further they get from the equator. But even if maps are inherently wrong they can be incredibly useful too, allowing us to focus on one important factor to the exclusion of less important ones. Maps give us a new way to look at the world, and since that’s always a good thing we’re bringing you this selection of some of the most unique and fascinating maps we’ve ever seen…
We’ve given you a couple maps from each site to whet your appetite, but each link has many more maps to explore. Get ready to stretch your mind!
If you thought Apple’s maps were weird, look at these– The Guardian
From left to right- Map of the moon’s resources, map of global rail lines, and maps of London soccer team supporters
Urban Planning: Cities seen from space– DNews
From left to right- Shanghai at night, London and Tunisia during the day
40 more maps that explain the world– Washington Post
From left to right- Major shipping routes in the colonial era, population map by economic status, and the spread of anatomically modern humans throughout the world
19 thought-provoking maps that will change how you see the world– The Independent
From left to right- Places where your boss is most likely to be a woman, tourist photo map of London, countries with the fastest internet connections
Earth Shots: Must See Planet Pics– DNews
From left to right- Residential buildings in Malaysia, fall leaf change across Siberia, and smoke over our own Crater Lake
34 unusual maps you absolutely need to see to understand our world– Just Something
From left to right- Worldwide breast cup size, the 22 countries in the world Britain has not invaded, population density
Pop! Goes the World: 7.2 Billion and Counting– Big Think
From left to right- World population map for 2005, world population for 2015, and one of the many breakdown maps by region
A Collection of Very Strange Maps– I09
From left to right- US map of distance to nearest McDonalds, Chicago’s gangland in 1931, earth with water removed
5 best mind mapping tools– LifeHacker
Maps aren’t just guides to the world outside, they can be great tools to help us understand the world inside as well. This article will guide you to the 5 best mindmapping tools to help you with briainstorming and organization. From left to right, MindJet, Coggle, and XMind
In closing, if you still want more, we have a book recommendation for you as well…
Strange Maps: An Atlas of Cartographic Curiosities by Frank Jacobs
An intriguing collection of more than one hundred out-of-the-ordinary maps, blending art, history, and pop culture for a unique atlas of humanity. Spanning many centuries, all continents, and the realms of outer space and the imagination, this collection of 138 unique graphics combines beautiful full-color illustrations with quirky statistics and smart social commentary. The result is a distinctive illustrated guide to the world. Brimming with trivia, deadpan humor, and idiosyncratic lore, Strange Maps is a fascinating tour of all things weird and wonderful in the world of cartography.
