55 Items Tagged

Geography

Cape Town, South Africa

The Most Southwestern Point of Africa

The Cape of Good Hope is not quite as low as you can go on the African continent, but it's still geographically significant.

You're more likely to end up in the ocean than another country.

Dig a Tunnel Through the Center of the Earth to… Where?

If you, hypothetically, ignore the molten lava core.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think April 19, 2024

Math and dessert are a match made in heaven.

Celebrate Pi Day With These Mathematical Tales

Plus pie recipes, of course.

April White March 8, 2024

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Geographical Center of the Entire United States

Despite monuments in other locations, this spot in a South Dakota field is recognized by the U.S. National Geodetic Survey as the center of the 50 states.

How the Great Lakes Formed—And the Mystery of Who Watched It Happen

Skilled hunters adapted to the changing landscape and left tantalizing clues to who they were.

Gemma Tarlach January 11, 2024

The challenge began before any route existed.

In Estonia, It’s Possible to Ski Across 20 Mountains in One Day

What started as a scientific expedition has turned into a wild tradition.

Tom Peeters January 2, 2024

Midwestern nice? Southern charm? Grumpy New England?

Your Personality Depends on Which U.S. State You Live In

A map of confidence and kindness from California to New York.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think November 10, 2023

Von Schmidt Monument

An iron monument on the 120th meridian as surveyed, one of only four marking the boundary between Nevada and California north of Lake Tahoe.

Muhammad al-Idrisi made much better maps than this (we promise).

The Father of Medieval Geography Is Unfairly Blamed for One Very, Very Bad Map

He also made the most accurate world map of that time—and left out the sea monsters.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think September 1, 2023

This vintage map, published in 1864 by H.H. Lloyd of New York, reflects anti-secession sentiment by taking secession to an extreme conclusion.

A Map of the 'Disunited States' Shows the Fears of Civil War–Era America

A nation divided into not two—but four—took the idea of secession to an extreme.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think August 4, 2023

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: On the Map Crossword

AO Puzzles July 31, 2023

A map of West Africa features the world's roundest country (which is also the 14th most rectangular). Can you spot it? What about the eighth most rectangular?

What Are the World’s Roundest and Most Rectangular Countries?

Mind-boggling as it is, they're often one and the same.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think June 30, 2023

Podcast: Moose Boulder

How far would you go to find the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake in the United States?

The Podcast Team April 27, 2023

Podcast: Yellowstone's Zone of Death

Can a legal loophole make it possible to get away with murder?

The Podcast Team April 5, 2023

Landenberg, Pennsylvania

Delaware-Maryland-Pennsylvania Tri-State Point

The meeting of the northwestern corner of Delaware, the northeastern corner of Maryland, and the southern edge of Pennsylvania.

Bruère-Allichamps Borne

Bruère-Allichamps, France

Bruère-Allichamps Borne Milliaire

Designed to mark the geographical center of France.

Sign for Wilson's Stone Igloo

An Explorer's Guide to Exploration Itself

10 of our favorite monuments to the search for new frontiers.

Jonathan Carey September 8, 2022

First rung.

Alicante, Spain

Alicante Zero Level

Once used to calculate the various levels around the country.