Can’t find the Middle East on a map? Here’s why.

Invented in 1902 by an American, the 'Middle East' is all over the place.

A recent Morning Consult/Politico survey found that fewer than 3 in 10 registered voters were able to identify the Islamic Republic of Iran on an unlabeled world map.

Image: Morning Consult
  • If the Middle East is easier to find in the news than on the map, there's a good reason for that.
  • The term is a fairly recent invention with myriad definitions and applications.
  • In some versions, it extends further west than Ireland and as far north as Copenhagen.
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VPNs are a must for private browsing in 2020. Here are huge deals on 5 of them

With a virtual private network, you're accessing a separate server for your internet use, making it virtually impossible for hackers or malicious outsiders to track your online activities and hack your accounts.

Gear
  • In the U.S., only 5% of web users are protected with a VPN service.
  • These five deals provide protection and unrestricted web usage at top speeds.
  • All five VPN services are currently discounted as much as 97% off.
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    security computers data privacy technology

    The joy of French, in a dozen maps

    Isogloss cartography shows diversity, richness, and humour of the French language

    • Isogloss maps show what most cartography doesn't: the diversity of language.
    • This baker's dozen charts the richness and humour of French.
    • France is more than French alone: There's Breton and German, too – and more.
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    language maps

    'Charcoal Australia': This viral image isn't the full story

    Viral 'photo' is composite image, but other map shows true and growing size of devastation

    Australia is burning, but is it this bad?

    Image: anthonyhearsey.com
    • A viral photo shows Australia smoldering like a piece of charcoal about to ignite.
    • The composite image shows all fires over an entire month, which is not the same as all fires raging at the same time.
    • That's not to say the devastation isn't real, and growing–as proven by another map.
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    climate change nasa natural disaster Maps

    One map to translate them all

    European Word Translator: a simple idea adds a cartographic flourish to Google's online translation service

    'Hungry' in other European languages.

    Image courtesy of James Trimble
    Strange Maps
    • Google lets you translate text into one language at a time.
    • This translator shows you one word in all languages – on one handy map.
    • It's simple, instructive, and fun (a.k.a. móka, Spaß and zábava).
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    communication Language Maps

    Cyclist draws festive reindeer on map of London

    Giant Christmas image took 80 miles and nine hours to make

    A giant Christmas reindeer sprawled across the map of London.

    Image: Anthony Hoyt
    Strange Maps
    • Anthony Hoyte practises 'Strava art' – he uses the fitness app to draw pictures on maps.
    • Two years ago, he started drawing festive images for the Christmas season.
    • This year's effort, a giant reindeer sprawled across London, took 9 hours to 'draw'.
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    Maps

    The utopian 1920s scheme for five global superstates

    Austro-Japanese aristocrat Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi later concentrated on plans for Pan-Europe.

    One person's utopia is another's dystopia: A world map of five superstates.

    Image: public domain
    Strange Maps
    • Unity is strength: This 1920s map divides the world among just five superstates.
    • The map was produced by count Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, who devoted his life to European unity.
    • This utopian map may have inspired George Orwell's dystopian world in 1984.
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    europe politics globalization Maps