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Since the last time we wrote about Terrible Maps, a project that is dedicated to sharing maps no one asked for or needs, they've kept themselves rather busy. So it's only natural we created a follow-up article about the cartographers who are so bad, they're actually good. After all, what is the Internet for if not to poke fun at politics and our geographical illiteracy?
From hilarious guides on how to find the state of Kentucky to showing how many Switzerlands fit in Brazil, continue scrolling and check out these gems and tell us which one would you hang on your office wall!
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OK. We can clearly see these are bad maps. But how to know you're looking at a good one? Brant Scheidecker, a sales engineer at Cartegraph, highlighted some of the main essentials for accurate and easily interpretable map use.
"Every map should have a title. It allows the user to assess the purpose of the map quickly; allowing them to determine if it meets their needs," Scheidecker wrote.
Next, origin. A fancy name for a compass or the North arrow. "This allows the user to determine the maps reference to the earth. While most maps these days have North being straight up, occasionally you will encounter a map that has a skewed orientation, perhaps to better fit it on the physical medium it's presented on (i.e. paper), or simply because it’s easier to interact with the map in that orientation."
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When it comes to the source, it's a two-fold element. "It allows the map maker to provide the map viewer an idea where the data the map is representing is from; a necessity in determining the accuracy of a map. It also allows the map maker a way to cite the source of their data, avoiding all those pesky cries of plagiarism and the ensuing lawsuits," Scheidecker explained. "You have better uses for your time, like ensuring the rest of the T.O.S.S.L.A.D. elements are on your maps."
Let's not forget the legend (the area where a user can determine what a particular color or symbol represents on the map). "Without a legend, a user cannot successfully interpret what your map is trying to represent, 'Does the red skull and crossbones over my favorite restaurant mean what I think it means?'"
#3
You should also know when was the map that you're analyzing made. If it was created in 1962 and shows commuter levels in Chicago—it might not be such a valid source for the traffic data you are looking for today, unless you are feeling nostalgic, Scheidecker joked.
There you have it. You may now have become a cartographic genius, but you should be able to tell if you're looking at a terrible map or not!
#9
Christophe Beunens 4 years ago
I don't understand why Iceland is not green, but Spitsbergen is
#17
karla Meixnerová 4 years ago
No surprise, if the person with this opinion is a believer, that the Earth is flat...
#21
Rabbit Carrot 4 years ago
Nah. We see a giant a*s bible for most of those middle states. Oh and guns. Lots and lots of guns.
#22
Sadie Shapiro 4 years ago
i don't even want to try saying that one. you know which one I'm talking about.
Ice cube 4 years ago
My friend taught me how to say it. Once you get it down, it's just like saying a sentence in a foreign language
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Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 4 years ago
I still giggle like a little kid when I hear Twatt, Orkney. Orkney and Shetland are home to some wonderful place names. Other personal favourite place names from Orkney include: Mount Misery, Weethick Head, Queenamoan, Frogafiddle, and Ladies Hole. Those Vikings and Celts sure had some fun...
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Tiny Dynamine 4 years ago
Down here near Bristol is a village called Butcombe. It gives its name to a large brewery and is pronounced "Butt cum". I used to never want to order their beer at the bar by that name. Asking for a pint of butt cum just felt wrong.
Katherine Heasley 4 years ago
Fun fact: the city of Dull is a sister city of Boring, OR in the US.
Sansa Blacktyde 4 years ago
I used to live somewhere inbetween Pity Me (which is just North of Durham) and Wide Open (just North of Chester-le-Street). There's also Quaking Houses near there as well.
James Curtis-Smith 4 years ago
And you missed - No Place - which is quite close to Beamish...
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Caffeinated Hedgehog 4 years ago
Imagine having a name so long, you need to start reading it from another country
The ManicWeasel 4 years ago
I went there many years ago as part of a Contiki tour. They would stamp your passport at the train station if you wanted. It has a short version that's pronounced like Lan-Far-Go-Go-Go.
Bonnie Davis 4 years ago
I know right!!! 😂😂 I hope that you have a wonderful and blessed day my friend and please stay safe!!! 🙂🙂
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John Braines 4 years ago
Just down the road from Great snoring is Little Snoring, which is actually bigger than great snoring! Odd place names are actually quite common in the UK. Pratt's Bottom is in Kent and is really quite nice!
Stuart Miller 4 years ago
They missed Fingringhoe in Essex (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingringhoe)
Callista pierce 3 years ago
"Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwilliantysiliogogogoch" - when someone asks a drunk high person for he name of their town
Emily Ray Howson 4 years ago
OML that is so f*****g rude! I’m from that country and been to England too! Fattie head is Glasgow and the bunch of letters are Ireland . Sorry for the bad language lil’ kids c:
Dragonfruit'nrollerskates 4 years ago
This looks like taking random words from the Harry Potter series, and to the left is what you hear when Professor Trelawney opens her mouth.
Kinslee Hager 3 years ago
Llanfairpwllgwyngylllgogerychwyrndrobllllantysilliogogogoch is my favorite
Brian Coady 4 years ago
The weatherman nailed the name of that welsh town which begins with L, ends in h and has an absurd number of letters in between. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/09/10/meteorologist-nails-this-ridiculously-long-welsh-towns-name-like-a-boss/
Bonnie North 4 years ago
I think I would choose to live in "Rest and Be Thankful" as some of the other names are borderline porn!
Jennifer Brown 4 years ago
I love that they had to get that one long one from Wales one there!!
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwilliantyogogogoch. We called it Llanfair. Wales.
Sharon Vaughn 4 years ago
Now do the same in the US. My favorites in NC are Tick Bite, Lizard Lick, and Whynot.
James Curtis-Smith 4 years ago
There are so many that are missing from this list - Fingeringhoe, the Piddles,
Jeny Kennedy 4 years ago
I see that Wales has always had a regional hatred for vowels. Frankly, I'm not surprised.
K.Kobayashi 4 years ago (edited)
That Welsh town was actually renamed in the 19th century as a publicity stunt. It originally had a much shorter name (Llanfair y Pwllgwyngyll).
François Carré 4 years ago
I like the way "Loose Bottom" is at the bottom of the map. With French coast just below.
#28
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago (edited)
According to my dots in MS Paint over each: 132. Might be wrong, but I am not doing it again. EDIT: Did it again and Beto River is right, I missed 10 at some point. Thank you Beto!
#29
Oathbraker 4 years ago
I understand mistaking it with Iraq or Afghanistan, but how the f**k did they go to Africa and the Balkans? A couple are even in the UK, for crying out loud.
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What do you think ?
Ivo H 4 years ago
The main reason almost all of these maps are so terrible are the emoji, which (apart from they're extremely annoying) sometimes cover text.
Craig Silberman 4 years ago
I can now recognize Rokas Laurinavičius' posts after the first three entries.
Jozef Becker 4 years ago
Many of these maps would only be considered terrible from a geological point of view. A lot of them are demographic which, I find fascinating.
Jace 4 years ago
Found the anti-intellectual, liberal-hating conservative crusader who’s going to change us all by mocking us...
Load More Replies... Ivo H 4 years ago
The main reason almost all of these maps are so terrible are the emoji, which (apart from they're extremely annoying) sometimes cover text.
Craig Silberman 4 years ago
I can now recognize Rokas Laurinavičius' posts after the first three entries.
Jozef Becker 4 years ago
Many of these maps would only be considered terrible from a geological point of view. A lot of them are demographic which, I find fascinating.
Jace 4 years ago
Found the anti-intellectual, liberal-hating conservative crusader who’s going to change us all by mocking us...
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