Santa Claus Travel Time Map - Europe

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‘Memorable’ year (for mapping too) To quote many a commercial from 2020, this year has been “different” and “unprecedented” for all of us. With the Covid-19 pandemic changing our lives, it would be remiss to not mention the impact it has had on us and thank the tireless work key workers have done to protect and take care of us. Data and mapping has come into its own during this time, helping to track the spread of the pandemic, and where possible, to help plan and protect us. Data and mapping has also been vital to perhaps the other two major news headlines – theRead More →

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Music to my geographical ears! I’m coming up to a four year anniversary. When I started it, I didn’t think it would take up so many evenings. I didn’t think I’d learn so much. I didn’t think the journey would still be ongoing. I am, of course, talking about my ‘Music Map’.  For those who have followed or explored my site, may have noticed my interactive map regarding music artists and the geography of music artists. A brief description of this project is to map where music artists, bands or solo artists have ‘originated’, forming a geographical database which can be used to display andRead More →

Top 10 Most Expensive Rail Routes by Price per km

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Rail pricing – a global comparison There are some things in life you can be sure of – death, taxes and UK rail fares going up every year. By coincidence, I was just finishing up a quick bit of research on rail journey prices and cost over distance, when news of the latest price hike broke. In this article, the claim that the UK has the highest rail fares in Europe is investigated. It is something I’ve often thought about, and how it compares globally, but is this true? The take from the ‘Reality Check’, is that the UK is the most expensive bought onRead More →

Capitals and Centres Map

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This part three of series on capital cities, exploring influences on their location and history. There will be maps. For the first part click here and for the second part click here. Historical Capital Whilst moves to new capitals and new geography is a strong pattern here, history plays its part too. The most recent country to change its capital is Burundi in 2018, when it moved its capital from the more populous Bujumbura, to the more central location Gitega, the seat of the kingdom of Burundi until its abolition in 1966. Similarly, when Italy became a unified country, the weight of history played itsRead More →

Map of USA for Washington DC, 1791,A New Capital for a New Nation

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This part two of series on capital cities, exploring influences on their location and history.  There will be maps. For the first part click here.  Continuing to break new ground Continuing a post independence from Britain theme, is the US planned capital of Washington D.C., designated by its namesake George and officially made the capital of the young United States in 1800. Its strategic position on the Potomac river in a trans-state location between Virginia and Maryland reflected, not just a central location in the then 13 newly independent colonies; but a compromise between Southern and Northern colonies, i.e. slave holding and free states. TheRead More →

Capital Map Abuja Nigeria

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This part one of a series on capital cities, exploring influences on their location and history. There will be maps. What about capital cities anyway? Allow me to be controversial – geography is important. I’d actually go as far to say it’s vital. Don’t let comments about it just “being colouring in” tell you otherwise (though I do love colouring in). It’s the influencing factor that explains why where we live or work exist. Whether it’s proximity to water, transport links, natural resources, defensive position or simply other locations – these are all factors. Historically or more recently, locations don’t just ‘happen’ – they emergeRead More →

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I sense your presents… Wintertime in Western culture is known for the religious and pagan traditions of gift-giving, merriment and feasting around Christmas. Commonly across many cultures, it is considered Santa Claus delivers gifts. Last year we asked, ‘where’ does Santa come from? This year we are looking into ‘how’ – namely how does Santa Claus (or whichever gift-bringer) navigate and deliver their gifts? Using a map of course! We can only guess on the actual map Santa uses – but I imagine that it could look like something like the stylised map below which I hope you enjoy. Several cultures have different figures whoRead More →

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Vote for your Favourite Map! August for me has gone far too quickly, and Map of the Month has also come round again very quickly! Fortunately, as was the case last month, there’s been some great maps to explore over the dry summer spell. To follow up on last month, congratulations to Craig Taylor on winning the inaugural Map of the Month with his awesome #PlotmyPaws doggy themed data viz. From looking at recent activity, #plotmypaws is going from strength to strength. Back working on my #plotmypaws project this weekend, lots of #dog tracks coming in now! I want to believe they are somehow coordinatingRead More →

World Cup Quiz

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Let’s get quizzical So today I’m going to be doing something a little bit different to normal. Rather than rambling about a great map or geographical subject, here’s something a bit more fun. I’ve talked about geography and football before (see here and here) and particularly recently with the World Cup currently taking place in Russia. Some of you may have enjoyed the excitement of the tournament, while some may have no interest in football whatsoever. However, hopefully some sort of love of geography and maps brings us all together – therefore I’ve made an interactive quiz below. While it relates to the 32 countries takingRead More →

Eurovision 2018 - Jury - Public Vote Difference

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Overcoming geography While dust settles in Lisbon, after another crazy night of Eurovision revelry, we can now take time to analyse the patterns of this most geographical of contests. Netta Barzilai won the contest with the song “Toy” for Israel, overcoming it’s isolated geography and lack of neighbours, to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. Maybe the best song really does triumph over geography and ‘political voting’. This is a topic I have covered in the past, and while it would be naive to think this is a solely music contest – one only had to hear the audible boos when the televoting came fromRead More →