high res scans: vintage maps and curiosities
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from “here there be dragons” to thousands of spaceships
I really like enormous maps and infographics, which I mostly mine from deep in the Library of Congress’s terrible website. Everyone needs a hobby. To save you all the trouble of tracking them down, here are some fascinating vintage scans at the highest resolution available online.
There’s very long alt text following each graphic, which also serves as a demonstration of my large graphic description AI project. All links are free except a few at the end!
The Carta Marina
- 9666x6505
- download
This is a historical map known as the “Carta Marina,” — sometimes referred to as “Here there be Dragons” — created by the Swedish ecclesiastic and cartographer Olaus Magnus in 1539. It is one of the earliest detailed maps of the Nordic countries and is renowned for its intricate detail and artistic embellishments, which reflect the geographical knowledge and folklore of the time.
For the rest of the alt text, visit the page; it’s too much to fit here!
Chart of Electromagnetic Radiations
- 9400x6446
- download
The image is a vintage educational chart that provides an extensive overview of the electromagnetic spectrum, detailing the various types of electromagnetic radiation. It includes radio waves, which are commonly used for communication due to their long wavelengths, and microwaves, which are well-known for their applications in cooking and radar technology. The chart also explains infrared radiation, which we experience as heat and use in devices like remote controls, and visible light, which is the only part of the spectrum that can be seen by the human eye. The spectrum of visible light is broken down into its constituent colors, which range from red to violet. Ultraviolet radiation, which has shorter wavelengths than visible light, is known for its ability to cause sunburns but is also used for sterilizing medical equipment. X-rays, with even shorter wavelengths, are utilized in medical imaging to view the inside of the body. Gamma rays, at the high-energy end of the spectrum, are produced by radioactive atoms and cosmic phenomena. The chart doesn’t just list these types of waves; it also delves into wave characteristics such as reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference. It addresses concepts like polarization and the Doppler effect, which are essential to understanding how waves behave and interact. Moreover, the chart touches on significant scientific phenomena related to electromagnetic radiation, including the photoelectric effect, which explains how light can cause the emission of electrons from a material, and the Compton effect, which describes the increase in wavelength when photons collide with particles. This comprehensive chart serves as a valuable educational tool for students and enthusiasts of science, offering a detailed understanding of the properties and applications of electromagnetic radiation across its full spectrum.
Sci-Fi Spaceships Comparison
- 4268x5890
- download
This infographic is a comprehensive visual catalog that meticulously documents and compares the sizes of iconic spaceships across a wide array of science fiction universes. The chart is extensive and detailed, featuring vessels from classic and contemporary science fiction films, television series, and other media. Each ship is represented with a visual that corresponds to its relative scale, providing a stark visualization of how they would compare if brought together in a single shared space.
For the rest of the alt text visit the page; it’s too much to put here!
Geologic Map of the Near Side of the Moon
- 8015x5341
- download
This is a HUGE (possibly the largest I have) detailed image. This intricate and expansive graphic is the “Geologic Map of the Near Side of the Moon,” a scientific document that meticulously delineates the diverse geological features of the Earth’s natural satellite. It’s a testament to the extensive lunar studies conducted by scientists and represents a synthesis of data accumulated from various lunar missions.
For the rest of the alt text, see the page! It’s too much to fit here.
The Histomap
- 2097X9554–40MB
- download (free for members)
This is “The Histomap,” a historical visual infographic that illustrates four thousand years of world history. Created by John B. Sparks and first published by Rand McNally in 1931, this infographic is designed as a flowing timeline that depicts the relative power of contemporary states, nations, and empires from 2000 B.C. to the 20th century. The width of the bands on the map change to represent the power dynamics of different civilizations over time, allowing viewers to compare the rise and fall of empires.
The Histomap is known for its impressive size, being over five feet tall, and its use of vibrant colors to distinguish different civilizations. It presents a snapshot of world history, condensing a vast amount of information into a single page, which was a significant feat before the digital age. While it has been critiqued for a Western bias and the use of outdated terminology, it remains a remarkable attempt to make history more accessible and is considered both a piece of art and a useful educational tool.
For the rest of the alt text, visit the page!
Mississippi River Meander Belt
- 2616x3751 23mb
- download (free for members)
This intricate graphic is a geologic map titled “Ancient Courses Mississippi River Meander Belt: Cape Girardeau, MO — Donaldsonville, LA” and was created by cartographer Harold Fisk in 1944 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This map is part of a series that illustrates the dynamic changes of the course of the Mississippi River over a lengthy period of geological time.
The map is visually striking, with the main feature being the vivid, snaking paths that represent the historical channels of the Mississippi River. These paths are rendered in a spectrum of colors that correlate to different time periods, providing a timeline of the river’s meandering. Each color represents the river’s position at various points in time, with the curves and bends of the channels vividly overlaid upon one another.
On the left side of the map, there is a legend that breaks down the colors used to denote the ages of the meander belts. The color scale moves chronologically from the oldest in a dark red tone to the youngest in a vibrant yellow, with a multitude of shades in between each representing a different geological era. This visual key is crucial to understanding the historical progression of the river’s pathways.
Below the legend, there is a note specifying the “Sources of Data,” indicating that the base map primarily uses the U.S. Geological Survey Quadrangles, augmented by aerial photographs and field check by the Mississippi River Commission. The scale of the map is given as 1 inch to 1 mile.
The rest of the map is a detailed topographic background, on which the river’s ancient courses are superimposed. The base map details the contemporary landscape, including towns, roads, and the current course of the Mississippi River, depicted as a singular, well-defined line contrasting the multitude of its former meandering paths.
One striking aspect of this map is the density and complexity of the meanders, which reveal the historical behavior of a dynamic fluvial system. The intertwining loops and curves paint a picture of constant movement and change, with the Mississippi River carving out new paths through the sediment and rock over millennia.
This map is more than a mere geological artifact; it is an illustration of the concept of deep time — the vast scale of geological epochs that can be difficult to comprehend. It shows how the landscape we see today is the result of countless small changes over an unimaginable span of years. It is a graphical representation that bridges the gap between geology, geography, history, and art, conveying complex scientific data in a form that is both understandable and aesthetically pleasing.
For professionals in the fields of geology, geography, environmental science, and related disciplines, this map is a powerful tool for understanding the processes that shape natural river systems. It also serves as a historical document, illustrating the river as it once was and providing insight into how it has been managed and altered by human intervention. Moreover, for educators and communicators of science, the map is an excellent resource for illustrating the principles of geomorphology, sedimentology, and the fluid nature of our planet’s surface features.
That’s it for now!
Plenty more where that came from; stay tuned, and consider the Patreon — its all included and helps me with the time spent. Thanks for reading!
/luke
