Countries/provinces that look cool on the map

Stefu · April 30, 2003, 14:36

At the 'state pride' thread, people talked about how cool Maryland looked on the map. I agree. Maryland's got zazz. It excitingly combines the straight line-border and the squiggly river border. The way it sorts of divides in two is also neat. All in all, Maryland's pretty finely-shaped state. However, it probably wouldn't work as an independent nation, considering it'd look all silly by itself. No, we can't let Maryland get independent.

What other areas just look cool on the map?

Now, there's Finland, of course, though the Russians unbalanced it quite a bit by chopping off large parts of it. Greece is nice, with a good, detailed coastline. Israel creates an interesting large-small dynamic when placed on the map with all those big Arab states. It should have kept Suez peninsula, though - it looked even cooler with it. Mexico looks pretty good, but if you took, say, Oklahoma, Texas, NM, Arizona and parts of Cali and Nevada you'd get by continuing the northern border of Arizona westwards and gave those to Mexico, it'd look *super* great. Croatia is a bit like Pacman, chomping on Bosnia - I lke that. Somalia can't pull that off as well, though.

Then there are bad apples. Namibia has that silly little extension. Nepal looks kinda silly all like that, between India and China. And what about Gambia, small stretch of land inside Senegal? Haven't you ever looked at map and said "You know, I feel that Senegal should invade and annex Gambia, just for reasons of geographic prettiness"? And look at Malaysia, divided in two all like that. Disgraceful.

All in all, world could benefit from a major border restructuring. Sure, there'd be pain and suffering and all that, but my mental peace would be *considerably* increased by the prettier maps.

Dauphin · April 30, 2003, 14:38

Finland and Sweden make a great combo.

Clear Skies · April 30, 2003, 14:39

Britain looks like a pensioner leaning on a stick. Not good.

DinoDoc · April 30, 2003, 14:40

On that note, I'll mention Florida.

Sten Sture · April 30, 2003, 14:41

And then there is Chile. It is like Israel, except 50x as tall.

Stefu · April 30, 2003, 14:41

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Finland and Sweden make a great combo.

Only as the penis-scrotum in the Euro. Otherwise, Sweden's just cramping our style. It's like a giant condom.

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Britain looks like a pensioner leaning on a stick. Not good.

I've always thought Britain looks like an old crone who's fallen and broken something and now lies in the ground in an uncomfortable position but still smiling, bless her.

Dauphin · April 30, 2003, 14:43

I would like to see Italy kick Sicily into France's backside.

Pekka · April 30, 2003, 14:43

Yes.. we are the balls of Europe.

Lawrence of Arabia · April 30, 2003, 14:47

Etala - Savo looks good on a map too.

ixnay · April 30, 2003, 14:48

South Africa is pretty cool, what with the hole in it from Lesotho.

VJ · April 30, 2003, 14:52

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Yes.. we are the balls of Europe.

I just realized how good that would be for an advertising slogan.

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Finland - The balls of Europe!

I've always considered that the round or square countries look dumb, and the interesting ones are the ones with many suspicious shapes, such as Namibia, Japan and Cyprus.

Bereta_Eder · April 30, 2003, 14:52

Italy is like a boot kicking a stone, I envy the little Italian kids who had toi draw it at school. Easy.

Az · April 30, 2003, 14:53

esp. considering to greece.

Stefu · April 30, 2003, 14:54

Chile's too long. Basically, in South America, I'd reintroduce the ancient Inca empire at it's largest. Now THAT looked cool.

VJ · April 30, 2003, 14:55

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Chile's too long. Basically, in South America, I'd reintroduce the ancient Inca empire at it's largest. Now THAT looked cool.

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which raises a fair question: why won't south america unite? ( except Brasil ).

I thought that most of them already tried it in the 1800's?

Sava · April 30, 2003, 14:55

I've always liked the shape of Australia. I don't know why.

Az · April 30, 2003, 14:56

which raises a fair question: why won't south america unite? ( except Brasil ). They already share the most important thing: language and religion.

Bereta_Eder · April 30, 2003, 14:57

why indeed. it would be great if they did (although Brasil would have to stay out I guess)

RedFred · April 30, 2003, 15:17

I like the boot of Italy and the dog head of Quebec.

Winston · April 30, 2003, 15:27

If you take Norway, Sweden and Finland together and turn them upside down, you've got the front half of a camel.

I'm not entirely sure whether there's hidden symbolism in that.

Az · April 30, 2003, 15:31

Wow Tuome, you answered my question before I asked it!

I am quite ignorant of the history of South America, so if someone wants to enlighten me, don't be ashamed.

GePap · April 30, 2003, 15:32

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Originally posted by Azazel
which raises a fair question: why won't south america unite? ( except Brasil ). They already share the most important thing: language and religion.

That comment is a rather easy way for you to get yourself killed in S America Azazel... There is little love lost between Peru and Ecuador, colombia and Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile, or Peru and Chile, or Argentia and anyone else in Latin America.

I say Panama, an S that fell over. I also like Algeria, and India, though the area of Assm just looks added on.

Clear Skies · April 30, 2003, 15:32

Quote:

Originally posted by Winston
If you take Norway, Sweden and Finland together and turn them upside down, you've got the front half of a camel.

I'm not entirely sure whether there's hidden symbolism in that.

Ah, but if you play them backwards on a record player can you hear "We buried the drummer"?

Az · April 30, 2003, 15:38

Little love lost? Oh, you mean petty warlordish squabbling over no real issues? I don't see any basis for cultural, or religious xenophobia in South America. I understand that the continent is heterogenous, but there is much more in common for them to unite, than for the EU, for example.

SlowwHand · April 30, 2003, 15:45

Since this was pointed out to me quite a many years ago, I've never lloked at a map of Dallas-Ft. Worth quite the same.

Arrian · April 30, 2003, 15:47

Freakin' Texas.

-Arrian

SlowwHand · April 30, 2003, 15:48

Do you see what I'm saying?

Az · April 30, 2003, 15:48

erm, what?

SlowwHand · April 30, 2003, 15:50

Texas roads followed cattle trails.
They weren't laid out East-West, North-South, like Iowa or many other states.

So what you'll generally see is a "hub and spoke" look.

Winston · April 30, 2003, 15:51

I see what you mean, Slowwhand. The light-blue DFW Airport looks exactly like Darth Vader after Luke cut off his right forearm.