Editing 1500: Upside-Down Map
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | It has been said that maps with the {{w|South-up map orientation|south pole at the top}} will "change your perspective of the world". Such a map can easily be achieved by simply rotating a normal map 180 degrees, though the text labels would also be upside-down and perhaps harder to read. A [https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&q=upside-down%2Bmap%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bworld Google Images] search reveals many examples of upside-down maps with the text oriented correctly for reading. | |
− | + | This map is a comedic play on that where instead of the whole map being upside-down, each land mass is in the same position it would be in a traditional north-top map but rotated 180 degrees (presumably around some central point of the landmass) to the orientation it would have in a south-top map. Note that individual islands are rotated about their own centers, not following the rotation of the neighboring continent; however, some are displaced as necessary to keep them from being overlapped by the rotated continents. For instance, {{w|Madagascar}} would be overlapped by the {{w|Sahara}} if it remained in position, but is instead displaced eastward to keep it in the Indian Ocean. On the other hand all the islands of the {{w|Mediterranean Sea}} has disappeared under {{w|Asia}}. | |
− | + | Asia is so broad that almost the entire {{w|Indochinese Peninsula}} (with for instance {{w|Vietnam}} and {{w|Thailand}}) has been rotated out of the top of the map. Similar the map cuts of in the south above the {{w|Antarctica}}. | |
− | + | To keep their familiar shapes on a rectangular map, the continents would also have to be heavily distorted compared to their actual shapes, becoming much narrower (along the lines of latitude) near the poles and wider towards the equator. See also [[977: Map Projections]]. | |
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− | + | The basic climates for several areas would be distinctly different. For example, the the formerly-Central America area would be in the arctic zone while Siberia would be subtropical. | |
− | + | It is interesting that to some people {{w|Australia}}, {{w|Tasmania}} and {{w|New Zealand}} do not look very much different from their normal appearance. They have asked "why Australia was not rotated". But they have been rotated, just like all other separate landmasses on the map. | |
− | This arrangement of the world's | + | This arrangement of the world's land masses would have great advantages for trade, because there are (presumably navigable) straits between the {{w|Americas}} and between Africa and Asia, removing the need for the {{w|Panama Canal}} and the {{w|Suez Canal}}. |
− | The title text references the fact that | + | The title text references the fact that in this new map, the {{w|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland}} (UK) is now next to Asia, specifically the {{w|Korean Peninsula}}. {{w|North Korea}}, is mentioned in the text, having a history of hostile relations with nearby countries. However, on this map North Korea would be the part of {{w|Korea}} we today know as {{w|South Korea}}, Further, {{w|Northern Ireland}} is now at the south of the {{w|island of Ireland}}, so the UK's full name would need to change to The United Kingdom of Great Britain and '''Southern''' Ireland. There have been several wars concerning the {{w|English Channel}}, mainly, but not only, between {{w|England}} and {{w|France}}. Since a similar channel now, on this world map, is between the UK and North Korea (our map's South Korea) there could obviously have been many wars for the dominance over said channel. |
− | Along the same line of thinking, interesting speculations could be made | + | Along the same line of thinking, interesting speculations could be made from the following "new" facts: |
− | *{{w|Cuba}} is now off the east coast (formerly west coast) of {{w|Canada}} (and | + | *{{w|Cuba}} is now off the east coast (formerly west coast) of {{w|Canada}} (and {{w|USA}}). |
− | *{{w|Japan}} is next to the coast of {{w|Portugal}} and {{w|Spain}}. | + | *{{w|Japan}} is next to the coast of {{w|Portugal}} and {{w|Spain}}. |
− | *Madagascar lies next to {{w|Morocco}} and {{w|Mauritania}} on the east coast (formerly west coast) of | + | *Madagascar lies next to {{w|Morocco}} and {{w|Mauritania}} on the east coast (formerly west coast) of Sahara. |
− | *{{w|Taiwan}} | + | *{{w|Taiwan}} is now next to France. It is though doubtful whether they get along any better with the French than with the mainland {{w|China|Chinese}}. |
*{{w|Greenland}} lies next to {{w|Mexico}}. | *{{w|Greenland}} lies next to {{w|Mexico}}. | ||
*{{w|Sri Lanka}} is located next to the {{w|Yamalsky District}} of {{w|Russia}}. | *{{w|Sri Lanka}} is located next to the {{w|Yamalsky District}} of {{w|Russia}}. | ||
− | *{{w|Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego|Tierra del Fuego}}, an island just south of the southern tip of South America, which is divided between {{w|Argentina}} and {{w|Chile}} | + | *The island {{w|Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego|Tierra del Fuego}}, an island just south of the southern tip of South America, which is divided between {{w|Argentina}} and {{w|Chile}} is now located in a similar manner next to {{w|Colombia}} and {{w|Venezuela}}. So it would probably have been divided between these two countries. |
− | *The {{w|Falkland Islands}} (not named in the map | + | *The {{w|Falkland Islands}} (not named in the map, they are probably represented by the single island above the T in Tierra) where Argentina and UK have an ongoing {{w|Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute|sovereignty dispute}} now could be claimed by {{w|Ecuador}} or {{w|Peru}}. |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:Taiwan | :Taiwan | ||
:Japan | :Japan | ||
− | :'''Pacific Ocean''' | + | :'''Pacific Ocean''' |
:[Southern hemisphere:] | :[Southern hemisphere:] | ||
− | :'''Pacific Ocean''' | + | :'''Pacific Ocean''' |
:'''South America''' | :'''South America''' | ||
:Tierra del Fuego | :Tierra del Fuego | ||
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:[Below the main frame:] | :[Below the main frame:] | ||
− | :''' | + | :'''The Upside-Down Map will change your perspective of the world!''' |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Geography]] | [[Category:Geography]] | ||
[[Category:Maps]] | [[Category:Maps]] |