# Your geographical misconceptions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 30, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294 "2020-12-30T20:58:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/301 "2021-01-17T16:56:01Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Until recently I had the idea that the Rock of Gibraltar was an island. It kind of _was_ - before the connecting isthsmus was built up and the airport was built there, the connection to the mainland was a swampy sandbar, so I’d say it was, before development, right on the cusp between the definitions of ‘peninsula’ and ‘tidal island’ ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/302 "2021-01-17T17:13:51Z")
The last few miles of I-64 East run south through Norfolk VA, then west through Chesapeake VA. I-64 West, of course, starts by going east through Chesapeake, turns to the north, and then runs northwest from Hampton towards Richmond. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/303 "2021-01-17T18:56:14Z")
> [@Drsunflower1](#): > > … That’s the island where Copenhagen is… Now, we went to Copenhagen late in 2019, and I was astonished to discover that, like the Mediterranean, the Baltic is essentially tideless. I had no idea. And it’s not quite a geographical misconception, but I also had no idea that the mermaid was more or less on the beach - I had always assumed it was in the middle of a harbour. j ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/304 "2021-01-17T22:03:14Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > I had always assumed it was in the middle of a harbour. Me too. It’s probably the most underwhelming landmark in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/306 "2021-01-17T22:25:32Z")
I just found out (accidentally) how you delete a post. What I meant to say was: Oooo - now there’s a thread… ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/307 "2021-01-17T23:03:04Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I’m always surprised how far south Canada goes. I was surprised to learn how far north European countries are. I tend to think of the lot of them as directly east of the U.S., which simply isn’t true. My brain also keeps wanting to switch the locations of Namibia and Zimbabwe and put Gabon next to Ghana instead of cattywampus from it. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/308 "2021-01-17T23:27:58Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > I was surprised to learn how far north European countries are. I tend to think of the lot of them as directly east of the U.S., which simply isn’t true. I heard that in Canada there are polar bears living at the same latitude as Edinburgh. And the southern US is at the same latitude as north Africa. Explains why Americans get more sun! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/309 "2021-01-17T23:28:09Z")
Having spent some time in northeastern Thailand, it’s always struck me how much closer to Hanoi a lot of that region is than it is to Bangkok. A lot closer. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/310 "2021-01-18T00:16:46Z")
The early colonists assumed that Virginia would have the same climate as Mediterranean Spain and Labrador the climate of London. This proved to be a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/311 "2021-01-18T00:35:35Z")
Once AGW puts a halt to the Gulf Stream they will become right; London _will_ have Labrador’s climate. They were just a few hundred years early. And backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/312 "2021-01-18T08:47:16Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I heard that in Canada there are polar bears living at the same latitude as Edinburgh. certainly London is further north than Newfoundland. ---
**Author:** ![cytop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@cytop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cytop)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/313 "2021-01-18T09:05:03Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > … It’s probably the most underwhelming landmark in Europe. Nope - that’ll be the [Manneken Pis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis) in Brussels. It’s precisely half the size of the Mermaid. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/314 "2021-01-18T11:55:30Z")
You’re forgetting Dublin - they’ve got [The Tart With The Cart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Malone) _and_ [The Floozie In The Jacuzzi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Livia_(monument)). As forgettable as they come. j ---
**Author:** ![cytop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@cytop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cytop)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/315 "2021-01-18T12:54:03Z")
At least the Floozie has got _presence_ … The Manneken Pis is 2 foot tall - I guess I was considering physical size as well as everything else and, as you hear so much about the MP in Brussels, if you’re not prepared it can be a tremendous let-down. One misconception fought though… Even though I driven down O’Connell street many times (Live in the UK so not a daily thing for me) I’ve never noticed it’s not there any more… so back on topic at least 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/316 "2021-01-18T14:33:37Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > > [@DemonTree](#): > > > > I heard that in Canada there are polar bears living at the same latitude as Edinburgh. > > certainly London is further north than Newfoundland. Buckingham Palace is at right about 51°30’ while the southernmost reach of James Bay (the appendix of Hudson Bay) is around 51°17’ (the northern tip of Newfoundland is at 51°38’), so it seems entirely possible that there could be polar bears living even as far south as parts of London. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/317 "2021-01-18T14:39:25Z")
That’s crazy. I live north of London and it snows about 3 times a year. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/318 "2021-01-18T14:53:18Z")
Right now I’m near Bristol, at a latitude of 51.49, and it hasn’t snowed enough to settle for about 2 years here. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/319 "2021-01-18T15:45:42Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > … the southernmost reach of James Bay (the appendix of Hudson Bay) > … Bravo! Superb imagery. > [@DemonTree](#): > > That’s crazy. I live north of London and it snows about 3 times a year. > [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Right now I’m near Bristol, at a latitude of 51.49, and it hasn’t snowed enough to settle for about 2 years here. The UK & Europe’s non-arctic climate is largely if not entirely down to the Gulf Stream current originating in the tropical Gulf of Mexico. If that quits you _will_ be living in year round snow country. Hence my comment upthread about AGW which is predicted to alter that current in unpredictable ways. See here for more: > **[North Atlantic Current](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic_Current)** > > The North Atlantic Current (NAC), also known as North Atlantic Drift and North Atlantic Sea Movement, is a powerful warm western boundary current within the Atlantic Ocean that extends the Gulf Stream northeastward. > The NAC originates from where the Gulf Stream turns north at the Southeast Newfoundland Rise, a submarine ridge that stretches southeast from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. The NAC flows northward east of the Grand Banks, from 40°N to 51°N, before turning sharply east to cross the ... ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/320 "2021-01-18T17:06:35Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Buckingham Palace is at right about 51°30’ while the southernmost reach of James Bay (the appendix of Hudson Bay) is around 51°17’ (the northern tip of Newfoundland is at 51°38’), so it seems entirely possible that there could be polar bears living even as far south as parts of London. absolutely, [here’s a warning](https://www.whalehouse.ca/blog/polar-bear-warning-issued-for-newfoundland/) just from this year which relates to a settlement that is geographically south of Buckingham Palace ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/321 "2021-01-18T17:07:42Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Right now I’m near Bristol, at a latitude of 51.49, and it hasn’t snowed enough to settle for about 2 years here. Unlucky. We had a decent snowfall on Friday that lasted two whole days. There’s definitely more snow here in the Midlands compared to when I lived by the coast. And one year it got down to -11C. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > The UK & Europe’s non-arctic climate is largely if not entirely down to the Gulf Stream current originating in the tropical Gulf of Mexico. If that quits you _will_ be living in year round snow country. Everyone knows it’s an important factor, but I had understood it doesn’t affect summer temps much, only winter ones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294.md?page=17)