18th 2010f June 2010
Posted in: Travel
There are many people out there who like maps and choosing the right map of the world to give someone can be hard. Everyone has different tastes and will like a map for different reasons. Some people really only like old maps, enjoying them for the historical significance that they hold. Other people really only want a current map of the world. Every map is different.
One thing you will want to consider when deciding the type of map you will be getting someone is if they want to be able to feel where the mountain ranges are. This is more common on globes, but there are plenty of maps that offer this as well. It is excellent for a younger kid to have. Not only will they spend a long time looking at the map, but they can also touch the map, getting an idea of what the geography in various areas is like. Some maps will make the bumps proportional to the size of the mountains so the Himalayas are the largest bump. For the kid who is interested in the size and shape of the world this might help them understand what these parts of the world are like.
Another thing you will want to think about is what style of map the person would prefer the most. Because the earth is round and a map is flat it is impossible to get an accurate world map. There are however a number of different styles that try to claim to be more or less accurate than counterparts. The map that most people are used to is the Mercator map , which emphasized the very top and the very bottom of the map, shrinking the middle of the map. This makes Greenland look bigger than Alaska or for that matter in some cases South America. It is spread out this way so that things look flat, are spread out and so that it is easier to map out a straight line for sailing purposes. Some map enthusiasts hate Mercator maps, although which one they think is better is really up to them. You may want to find out these things before buying a map for anyone.
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