Can Maps be Interesting?

Since its debut, Google’s “Street View” feature for online maps has been getting a lot of press coverage. The high-resolution photos, provides the user the ability to digitally stroll down the street, take a 360-degree look around an intersection and point out a landmark.

However there are many interesting sites that deal with Maps. Several sites compile the many webcams positioned around the globe. The best is http://www.earthcam.com/.

Other interesting maps include:

• The blog http://www.strangemaps.wordpress.com/ brings together bizarre and fascinating maps. A recent addition is a map of the U.S. in which the states have been renamed to countries with a similar Gross Domestic Product
• A strong passion for geography is felt at http://catholicgauze.blogspot.com/, a blog that links to maps of all kinds
• The opposite feeling can be found at http://www.sprol.com/, which charts the “worst places in the world”
• One of the most fascinating maps online is http://www.breathingearth.net/. Created by artist David Bleja, it simulates the global rates of birth, death and carbon dioxide emission

Article by: Web maps run gamut, by Jake Coyle (AP)