The word “map” comes from Mappa Mundi, meaning “cloth (or napkin) of the world” in Latin.

The word “globe” comes from the Latin globus, meaning “sphere” or “round mass.”

Mapmakers are called cartographers, as cartography derives from the Medieval Latin word carta meaning “map.”

Since the Earth is an imperfect sphere rather than flat, a two-dimensional map is never entirely accurate compared to what our eyes perceive. Elevation is difficult to represent, and even scale can appear distorted. For example, on many world maps, Greenland seems much larger than it truly is, while Africa looks smaller because Greenland lies near the top and Africa is mostly centered.

True north and magnetic north are not the same. Magnetic north gradually shifts over time, while true north always points to the geographic North Pole.

Maps have existed for nearly as long as recorded history. Even the Babylonians created maps on clay tablets thousands of years ago.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, some maps oddly placed east at the top rather than north.

While the equator is universally agreed upon, the prime meridian, the line running north to south, is more debated. Officially, it passes through Greenwich, England.

The mythical Mountains of Kong appeared on African maps for over a century, even though neither the mountains nor the range ever existed.

Sandy Island was once shown on maps and even on Google Earth until researchers confirmed it did not exist.

Many medieval maps placed Jerusalem at the center of the world because of its significance to the Abrahamic religions.

Maps were secretly included in board games like Monopoly to help Allied soldiers who were captured during World War II.

Depending on the projection, Alaska can almost touch Russia, making it technically the easternmost U.S. state.

Some cartographers inserted fake streets or places, known as “trap streets,” to prove when their work had been copied without permission.