Question about world maps & USA, throughout int'l community

[PantheraTigris2]

This is something I've always wondered...
Here in the U.S., in just about every single world map I've ever seen, the 48 contiguous/continental States are always shown on the map. The borders, different colors for them, and the names, and State capitals as well. But I was wondering if this was the case if I was to see a typical world map from say, Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Finland, China, Russia etc. (i.e., anywhere else).

I'd presume, that on all of your maps, there's just this big green blob that simply says "United States of America" - with a single capital - Washington, D.C.

Because hey, why would somebody in France, or Thailand for ex. - care about where the border between Oklahoma and Texas is?

I very rarely ever see a world map where the USA is the 'big contiguous blob', no, it's always been neatly divided into the different quasi-independent States I've been so used to seeing my whole life. Whenever I actually do see a map without the State boundaries, it strikes me as odd.

So, outside of the USA, what do you people see on your maps & globes?

I'm having a debate about this with someone, but I think I'm right...

 

[Toasty]

I usually see the USA as the "big continuous blob" with the states marked with dotted lines. The same is done for the Canadian provinces and on old maps, the SSRs of the USSR.

 

[nihilistic]

Really? In most world maps I have seen, the US is in one contiguous blob. Then again, most of the maps that I see are on the computer.

 

[PantheraTigris2]

Yeah, in my American experience, (world) maps & globes have always shown the different States, in different colors, etc. I figured there would be several instances like what Toasty said, where the different States WOULD actually be shown, in a dotted line, but the Union as a whole would always be one color. But then, Canada is right next door, so perhaps they might possibly care, to some extent, where the State borders are.

But in some other far away place, I'm thinking they don't go to the trouble of showing the States at all, just a few major cities, the country name, Washington, D.C., and that's it.

And likewise, in the UK or Canada, I wonder if their maps show their own countries differently that what we would see in the USA. In the UK, I would expect to see lines between Wales, and Scotland, perhaps even different colors, etc. Point being, that every nation (making the map) is going to pay more attention to itself than anyone else. Buy a globe in Germany, and maybe you'd even see all their various 16 states? But the U.S. is one blob? I don't know. That's why I ask.

 

[Immortal]

in canada, we have both, the canadian provinces shown and the american states shown.

 

[WillJ]

Here in America I've seen maps with the states in different colors, with the states seperated by dotted lines, and with the "contiguous blob." It usually depends on how detailed it is. Also, I've seen world maps with the provinces of Australia and Canada seperated (usually by lines instead of colors).

And like you, I'm also kind of curious if maps pay more attention to detail for their home countries; like with your example of a world map in Germany showing their 16 states.

 

[PantheraTigris2]

Sure, I've seen various graphical displays of the USA without the States, but as far as world maps (that you can actually hold in your hands), and globes, all of which I've bought were made in the USA, it's always been the same my whole life. You look to N. America, and there's Canada, usually a single frosty, deep pinkish (cold )-looking color, and to the south, Mexico is usually a sandy looking color (I think they do this on purpose!), but in between those two, is a vast array of color collage, that would put your average rainbow to shame.

I'd hate to think that the rest of the world is missing out on that psychedelic experience!

 

[Greadius]

I'd hate to see a world map that drew lines for all the regions within the states of the world... it'd look like a jigsaw puzzle.

 

[MadScot]

Rather depends on the size of the map, I suspect. UK world maps will often show the constituent kingdoms, where other countries' maps might not. And atlases are very nationalistic too - I've seen some weird choices. (A UK atlas that shows only the Po valley for Italy ??? What did they have against Rome, I wonder?)

Another cultural oddity is the choice of projection, and the map boundaries. Maps in the UK are generally shown centred on 0 longitude, and area usually Mercator projections. Which are both logical choices, but also happen to make the UK relatively larger and centred on the map. US maps usually show the Mercator projection, again, but with the centre being about 90 West i.e. with the USA centred.

I would imagine that Russian or India maps might be centred on 90East, and India might prefer a projection that gave more credit to their large land area.

At least no-one uses a vertical Mercator, if you see what I mean. If Antarctica were ever settled and a nation I guess they'd be a likely polar projection map.

 

[History_Buff]

Originally posted by PantheraTigris2
But then, Canada is right next door, so perhaps they might possibly care, to some extent, where the State borders are.

pffft, why would anybody want to go to America?

Well, my globe shows only us the and the <shudder> states being divided into provinces/territories/states. and then England is divided into England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

 

[funxus]

I think there's a difference between the provinces in European countries and the american states, because many of the states are larger or as large as many of the European countries. I think my world map divides Canada and USA into States.

 

[Adebisi]

Originally posted by Toasty
I usually see the USA as the "big continuous blob" with the states marked with dotted lines. The same is done for the Canadian provinces and on old maps, the SSRs of the USSR.

Yes, it's usually like that, altough it depends on the size of the map of course.

Because hey, why would somebody in France, or Thailand for ex. - care about where the border between Oklahoma and Texas is?

Well, I did have to learn the American states in School.

 

[Stapel]

Most WM's I see, do show state borders. There are two reasons for it, I think:

1. The USA is a federal country. Most countries in the world are not. Germany is federal, but not as federal as the USA. Example: speed limits are the same in every german 'Bundesland'.
2. A practical reason: The US is big enough. The avarage american state is several times bigger than the country I live in. Only some New England states are somewhat troublesome to project on a small WM.

 

[allhailIndia]

It depends on who is the publisher of the map.
An American publisher usually shows the boundaries of the various states, but in the same colour, while other publishers, show "a big blob".

 

[thestonesfan]

Originally posted by Greadius
I'd hate to see a world map that drew lines for all the regions within the states of the world... it'd look like a jigsaw puzzle.

I'd actually like to see one. Does anyone know where I could find it?

 

[ZultanofZex]

Now that you mention it, all the maps I remember from school had the states drawn out. Strange, since no other country has that.

 

[Akka]

Big blob most of the time, here

 

[Lt. 'Killer' M.]

Big blob if it is a small map, big blob with state borders if it is a large map. After all, each average state is as big as Germany.....

 

[HuckFinn]

Depends on how big a map it is, and what kind of level of detail they're in general using. I think most of the big Finnish-language maps I've seen have had state borders drawn. Same thing with other geographically big federal-type countries, Canada, Australia, etc.

Then again, a lot of the maps I see are not Finnish maps, but "Made in China" for the international market...

 

[Hitro]

It also depends on the kind of map. I have a map in my room in which country borders are drawn in, but the colours depend on the topography and climate, not on the borders.