The hottest Cartography Substack posts right now

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I Wrote Half a Book About Phantom Islands and Then Discovered I Was Scooped Seven Years Ago

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 712 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Cartography
  1. Phantom islands are cartographic errors where non-existent islands were believed to exist due to various reasons.
  2. Phantom islands can result from clerical errors, illusions, incomplete exploration, deliberate fabrications, or myths.
  3. Discovering similarities with existing works can provide unique perspectives and motivate to add more uniqueness to personal projects.

Super Sundry, Vol. 1

Chartography • 117 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Cartography
  1. Mathematician discovered a shape that can be tiled without repeating pattern, shown in a data map.
  2. Retired professor highlighted alarming anomalies in ocean temperature and sea ice extent through powerful graphics.
  3. Exploring robotic arts and geometric designs from the 1950s, showcasing artistic QR codes and industrial perfection.

Li River 漓江

Cosmographia • 139 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🏝 Travel Cartography
  1. The post discusses the Li River (漓江) and is part of the Atlas' Notebook series on Cosmographia, featuring art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography centered on a specific place.
  2. It is for paid subscribers only, offering a deeper exploration of the Li River through various creative mediums.
  3. The content includes art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography related to the Li River, providing a rich and immersive experience for those interested in this location.

Kicking Horse Pass

Cosmographia • 99 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Cartography
  1. The post is part of the Atlas' Notes series that focuses on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography centered on a specific place.
  2. Access to the full content of the post is for paid subscribers only.
  3. The post invites readers to subscribe to read the complete content or to sign in if they are already paid subscribers.

The Sahara

Cosmographia • 79 implied HN points • 01 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Cartography
  1. The post is part of the Atlas' Notes series by Cosmographia, focusing on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography related to a specific location.
  2. Access to the full post is for paid subscribers only.
  3. The post includes imagery and is authored by M. E. Rothwell.
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A Journey from Trans-Baikal to the Amur Through Manchuria - Peter Kropotkin, 1865 (1/4)

The Library of Alexandria Ultima • 6 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
💾 History Cartography
  1. Russia sought a much shorter overland route across Manchuria to connect Trans‑Baikal with Blagoveshchensk because the Amur and Argun form a long arc that made travel far longer. A direct route promised faster transport and would keep trade and silver under Russian control.
  2. A small caravan of Cossack hunters was sent to scout that straight route, carrying limited goods, forty horses, four carts, and about a month’s supplies to test markets and seek furs. The mission combined reconnaissance with trade and hunting to see if the route was practical and profitable.
  3. Russia’s mid‑19th‑century acquisition of the Amur and Ussuri regions and the later building of the Chinese Eastern Railway reshaped the frontier, shortened routes, and spurred colonization and new cities. Those strategic gains and the railway zone were later contested and changed hands after the Russian Revolution.

The Lost Islands Of Seattle

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 139 implied HN points • 03 Nov 22
💾 History Cartography
  1. Seattle used to have more islands than it does now. Some islands formed quickly and then disappeared due to construction and changing landscapes.
  2. At one point, Seattle was completely surrounded by water, making it an island for a brief period in history. This showed how much the city has changed over time.
  3. Certain places in and around Seattle, like Seward Park and Foster Island, had unique histories as 'temporary islands' due to seasonal water levels.

A New Map Of Medieval London

Londonist: Time Machine • 1 HN point • 12 Jun 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Cartography
  1. A detailed map of medieval London has been created, showing intricate parish boundaries, city structures, and landmarks from the 13th century.
  2. The Historic Towns Trust has produced detailed maps of Tudor and medieval London, using extensive research and archaeological knowledge.
  3. Mapping the city's past presents challenges due to gaps in historical records, uncertainties in field boundaries, and complexities of plotting locations like churches in ancient London.