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While the continental model is ostensibly based on physical features, the world regional model is keyed more to geopolitical factors. As a result, it does not generally divide countries among regions. The one exception is France, whose exclaves (overseas departments) are usually placed in Latin America (Guiana, Guadeloupe, and Martinique) and sub-Saharan Africa (Réunion and […] The post Problematic Countries in the World Regional Model appeared first on GeoCurrents.
Despite my harsh criticisms of the continental model expressed in the preceding posts, I do think that it should be taught to young students. In my ideal scenario, first-graders would be shown, ideally by examining a globe, that there are six very large masses of land that are separated, or almost separated, from each other […] The post From Continents to the World Regional Model appeared first on GeoCurrents.
Almost all maps found in online image searches of “continents map” depict the standard seven-continent model of the U.S. educational establishment. A few, however, deviate from the scheme by adding additional continents. Such adjustments are understandable, as the standard model does little to help us understand the world. But merely adding a continent or two […] The post Adding New “Continents” to the Map of the World – and thus Approaching the World-Regional Model appeared first on GeoCurrents.
As noted in the previous post, most maps of continents found in online images searches divide several countries, particularly Russia and Turkey, along conventional continental lines yet avoid dividing Indonesia in the same manner. Evidently, in the popular cartographic imagination, geopolitical factors override geophysical factors in the delineation of continents in some instances but not […] The post The Problem of Mapping Transcontinental Countries appeared first on GeoCurrents.
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I found this tool six years ago and meant to post it but forgot until now. Fortunately it still works and is still pretty cool. You can click anywhere in the United States and trace the path of a raindrop to the ocean. I chose a random point northwest of White River City in western Colorado. River Runner is a tool from Sam Learner, a graphic journalist from the Financial Times. After it loads, you will get a fly through video tracing the raindrop's path. Here it is flowing down the Green River after passing through "Unnamed River" then Crooked Wash and then the White River. The red on the full USA map marks where you are at any given moment in the fly through. Here is the river as it approaches the Grand Canyon, and here it is in the agricultural landscape along the Arizona-California border. Unfortunately since this river goes into Mexico before flowing into the sea, the path is detained at the border (this is no longer true see update below). To see an example of a river's mouth here is the Mississippi flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Don't expect a precise level of detail. I clicked at my house and it picked a point about a mile away where the flow to the nearest river is a bit different from where I am. It also got the name of a nearby lake wrong. Go here to see your local journey. UPDATE: River Runner is now a global phenomenon! You can now cross borders and go anywhere!
Malin and Mizen is a company that makes specialty maps like the California Surf Map I love the wavy lines and details showing ideal wind and swell directions, coordinates, shark sightings, etc. The hand drawn details on the land are also very nice. The company is named for Malin and Mizen Head, the northernmost and southernmost points in Ireland. Here you can see North Malin from the Irish Surf Map. They make maps for different sports, history and beer and wine. Here is part of the Irish Pub Map. The x indicates where hot food is available. Here is some detail from the California Vineyard Map, the letters indicate grape types and the other symbols are for visiting and tasting information. There are also many swimming and golf maps. Other surf maps include Australia with its varied topography. Kangaroos and ostriches dot the land. Finally, closer to home (for me) is New Jersey.
