34 Informative Map Facts: A Symbolic Depiction Of Geography

Mapmaking was once a very skilled job that required a high level of information, knowledge, and accuracy.

Often found in a travel enthusiast's room, maps are commonly used as wallpaper, interior art, magnetic pinboards, and educational tools. But did you know that the ancient maps were so expensive that the royals owned them as extravagant possessions?

The study of making maps is referred to as cartography, and professionals who create them are known as cartographers. In ancient times, maps were created by hand, and that required a very high level of skill. This is the reason why they were so expensive. Also, the purpose they served was very helpful for trade and expansion.

Maps were the first to show roads. But the first map drawn was not of the Earth but of the stars.

It was found in an ancient cave drawing in France. Another cool fact about maps is that during World War II, silk maps were attached to monopoly games along with real money and a working compass. This has helped many prisoners of war escape.

There are two norths on the map. One is the true north, and the other is the magnetic north.

True north is the geographical north pole, and magnetic north is indicated by the north end of the compass needle. The magnetic north pole can move around by 25 mi (40.2 km) and sometimes even swap places with the south pole every year.

Did you know a road map is the most commonly used type of map? In fact, the Turin Papyrus Map, created in Egypt in 1160 BCE, was the first road map that displayed the routes around river bends.

Scale And Accuracy In Maps

Read these interesting facts about the scale and accuracy of maps.

There is no map that is 100% accurate. This is because maps are flat, and the Earth's surface is spherical.

Both digital geographical data sets and printed maps cover extensive areas and are more generalized when proper scale is maintained.

On a large scale, accuracy also varies.

If proper accuracy and scale are not maintained while designing a map, it can result in serious problems.

Fake Towns In Maps

Let's explore some facts about fake paper towns or other places, 

Even though everyone knows that the north might be at the top, it wasn't always the same. Instead, a wide range of western maps were placed at the top towards the east in the Middle Ages.

The Mountains of Kong, discovered by James Rennell, did not exist as it was a mistake by him.

This fake location was on African maps for the next century, nonetheless.

To protect maps from forgery, fake places and towns have been included in ancient cartography. These fake locations are paper towns, phantom settlements, or bunnies.

Some examples of paper towns are Beatosu and Goble. In the '70s, they appeared on some official state maps of Michigan.

Beato refers to the rival of Michigan, Beat Ohio State University, and Goble refers to the chant 'Go Blue'.

At least one paper town was created by Google, named Argleton, England. This location was discovered on Google Maps in 2008.

However, this location was an empty plot of land and not a town. After a few years, Google removed it, and no one could find out if it was a copyright trap.

From an early age, maps existed in cave paintings. You will find a map of stars in the French caves of Lascaux. It is also referred to as the three bright stars and the Summer Triangle. These things are believed to be over 16,500 years old.

Individuals who think that an ancient map is nothing in front of a current map should look at the Turin Papyrus Map. In 1160 BC, this map was created to show Egypt.

Oldest Known Maps

The Ancient Greeks developed maps by describing geography in detail and other things about the world. Continue reading to find out the features of old maps.

Modern maps were developed in the 12th century.

The Rudimentum Novitiorum is the first printed map.

The earliest maps depicted constellations, stars, and many other things.

The ancient Greeks were responsible for developing geography.

Also, the Greeks extensively described the things that they were aware of.

The Babylonian 'Map of the World' is considered to be the oldest map ever found.

This map was created in the sixth century BCE, and Babylon, Iraq, was the country of origin. It is circular, featuring two outer defined circles.

Some of the cities shown on this map are Susa, Uratu, Habban, and Assyria.

It also shows the ocean, a mountain, and several other outer regions.

One of the other oldest known maps is 'Eratosthenes' Map'. The country of origin of this world map is ancient Greece, and 276–195 BCE is the time of its creation.

The creator of this map is a geographer, Greek mathematician, music theorist, poet, and astronomer, Eratosthenes.

The materials used in creating this map are parchment and ink.

Although Greeks have long studied lands and world maps, Eratosthenes is widely regarded as the 'Father of Geography'. He also wrote a three-volume work named Geographika.

He mapped and described the entire world and categorized Earth into five different climatic zones.

Strabo's Map: The specific date of the creation of this map is unknown, but it is believed to have been made in around 20 BCE. Strabo, a Greek philosopher, geographer, and historian, introduced 'Geographica', a geographical encyclopedia.

Strabo's 'Geographica' gives a descriptive history of the places and people of Strabo's time.

All 17-volumes of his work have survived, which shows its great historical insight during this particular period.

He decided to approach geography by focusing on precise positions and places. It is because he believed these things were more practical.

Hecataeus' Map: A geographer, and Greek historian, Hecataeus, created this map. The ancient Greek city of Miletus is the country of origin. The time of creation is 550–476 BCE, and he was inspired after looking at the Anaximander work.

His version of the world map was more detailed, and he has written a book that has a comprehensive work on the geography of Asia, Europe, and Africa.

In addition, he included details of places and people that anyone can find when they check this map.

Every map has a different projection because of the Earth's shape. The Earth is round, and that is why there is no accurate map of the world. So, these predictions will change based on their purposes.

FAQs

What is a fact about maps?

The most important fact about maps is that they have different projections. The reason is that maps are flat, and the Earth is spherical.

What are the top five features of a map?

The top five features of a map are the bodies of water, mountains, topography, deserts, and other landforms.

How to read a map properly?

To read a map, you have to first choose the right one with the correct scaling and accuracy. Then, you have to understand the contour lines, map symbols, and consider four-figure and six-figure grid references to read perfectly.

Who created the map the first time around?

The credits for creating the first map of the world go to Anaximander, a Greek. He drew a map with details of Sandy Island, towns, cities of the Middle Ages, and more in the sixth century BC.

How old is the original atlas map?

The first atlas was made in 1570, over 400 years ago. It has details of many places, like Great Britain, caves, and many such places.

What are some very important facts about maps?

Some important facts are that anyone can have their own collection of world-class maps. The antique maps show the BRIC nations and the changes after the world wars.