23 Maps That Will Change The Way You Look At Britain Forever
Map porn, basically.
Though you may think you know exactly where and how big Britain is, it turns out everything may not be as it seems. First let's take a look at Britain's latitude...
As you may be aware, Britain benefits hugely from the Gulf Stream – an oceanic current that moves warmer water north and east from the Gulf of Mexico up towards the UK and the rest of northwest Europe.
Without it Britain's climate would be considerably cooler, and it's this that often gives people a false sense of just how northerly (or not) Britain is situated compared to the rest of the world.
Google Maps / Robin Edds / BuzzFeed
For example, let's take a look at where Britain lies relative to our North American cousins.
Using London, Edinburgh, and the northern and southern extremities of the UK (Out Stack in Shetland, and Pednathise Head in the Isles of Scilly respectively) as reference points, it's clear just how far north we're situated.
Even the southernmost point of Britain is further north than the northernmost part of the contiguous United States (the 48 adjoining states, so this does not include Alaska or Hawaii), while London lies further north than almost all major Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec City, and Toronto.
Right about now you're probably feeling a newfound love for a certain warm oceanic current, and we don't blame you.
Google Maps / Robin Edds / BuzzFeed
And when you compare Britain's location to Asia it's equally surprising.
The UK lies to the north of almost all of China, the entirety of Japan, and most of Mongolia (including the Gobi desert). Scotland may be a little chilly at times, but when you look at what it's on a par with, a few inches of snow and temperatures of around freezing don't really seem all that bad.
Google Maps / Robin Edds / BuzzFeed
Here's what happens when you zoom out and look at Britain's position relative to the rest of the northern hemisphere. In summary: Britain is a LOT further north than most people think.
PS. Sorry, Alaska. My monitor wasn't big enough to screengrab everything. We still love you though. Promise. ❤️
Google Maps / Robin Edds / BuzzFeed