# 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:** 18
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/342 "2021-01-22T18:12:56Z")
I learned in school that Canada was the second-largest country in the world. But when looking at a globe, which unlike various map projections is supposed to show everything in its correct proportions, the USA looked like it could be larger to my eyes (don’t forget Alaska). I mulled this over in my head for years. Finally, well into adulthood, I found out thanks to Wikipedia, that Canada is indeed the second-largest country if one includes its waters. In terms of land area alone, it is the fourth largest, with both China and the USA being bigger. I now live in the Czech Republic. When I tell people here that I come from Toronto, I can’t tell you how many people have asked “Is that the French part of Canada?” Toronto, being the capital of Ontario, is in one of the many parts of Canada where you don’t really need French at all to live life. Quebec (and thus its major cities Montreal and Quebec City) is the main French part. New Brunswick is something like 1/3 Francophone. Everywhere else, cohesive French-speaking populations are either absent or exist only in enclaves. ---
**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 22, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/343 "2021-01-22T22:58:27Z")
> [@themapleleaf](#): > > Canada is indeed the second-largest country if one includes its waters. In terms of land area alone, it is the fourth largest I learned a weird factoid about Canada not too long ago. Of its 3 territories and 10 provinces, the four of the capital cities are on ocean islands. So, yeah, no surprise that there is a lot of water there. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/344 "2021-01-23T01:07:47Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I learned a weird factoid about Canada not too long ago. Of its 3 territories and 10 provinces, the four of the capital cities are on ocean islands. So, yeah, no surprise that there is a lot of water there. Want another? Canada shares a water border with France. This is because Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a group of islands just off the coast of Newfoundland, are a French overseas collectivity, all that remains of the sometime colony of New France from which Canada arose. Currently, all the territories that remain of France’s old colonial empire are legally integral parts of the French Republic, so legally Canada is not far away from a part of France. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/345 "2021-01-23T01:39:14Z")
I always assumed that the island where Napoleon was dumped, Elba, was some ridiculously isolated place. Then I was in a pizza joint a little while back that had a map of Italy on the wall, and I was rather surprised to discover that, no, Elba is actually just off the Italian coast. Like, RIGHT there. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/346 "2021-01-23T02:25:28Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > > [@Treppenwitz](#): > > > > I had always assumed it was in the middle of a harbour. > > Me too. It’s probably the most underwhelming landmark in Europe. This [image](https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2016/01/Little-Mermaid-49845.jpg) puts the statue’s size and location in context. ---
**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 23, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/347 "2021-01-23T02:30:01Z")
What is the Bonaparte association to St. Helena? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/348 "2021-01-23T02:31:59Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > I always assumed that the island where Napoleon was dumped, Elba, was some ridiculously isolated place. Then I was in a pizza joint a little while back that had a map of Italy on the wall, and I was rather surprised to discover that, no, Elba is actually just off the Italian coast. Like, RIGHT there. The British apparently realized in retrospect that this had been a poor decision. The second time they exiled him they chose Saint Helena because of its extremely remote location. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/349 "2021-01-23T02:44:05Z")
> [@themapleleaf](#): > > Currently, all the territories that remain of France’s old colonial empire are legally integral parts of the French Republic, so legally Canada is not far away from a part of France. If you ever want to annoy people with geographical trivia, ask them to name all of the countries that share a land border with France. The easy part of the answer is Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland. The somewhat trickier part of the answer is Andorra and Monaco. The part that will make people swear at you is Brazil and Suriname. ---
**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 23, 2021, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/350 "2021-01-23T02:57:29Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > … I was rather surprised to discover that, no, Elba is actually just off the Italian coast. Like, RIGHT there. True. But _you_ try swimming the ~8 miles to shore. Or building a half-assed raft out of twigs in a stolen mattress sack & floating to sweet, sweet freedom. Back in the day, 8 miles of open water was a big obstacle. Nowadays even 100 miles becomes at least potentially surmountable solo … with just _a little more_ of the right gear. > **[Attempt to Flee Australia on a Jet Ski Fails (90 Miles Later)](https://www.loweringthebar.net/2019/03/flee-australia-jet-ski.html)** > > Impressive, but still unsuccessful. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/351 "2021-01-23T04:05:32Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > [@themapleleaf](#): > > > > Currently, all the territories that remain of France’s old colonial empire are legally integral parts of the French Republic, so legally Canada is not far away from a part of France. > > If you ever want to annoy people with geographical trivia, ask them to name all of the countries that share a land border with France. > > The easy part of the answer is Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland. The somewhat trickier part of the answer is Andorra and Monaco. The part that will make people swear at you is Brazil and Suriname. But the really, really tricky part of the answer is Netherlands. Caribbean island of Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/352 "2021-01-23T05:05:23Z")
It gets more complicated there. Overseas departments are clearly a part of France; they’re the equivalent of Alaska or Hawaii. But overseas collectivities have a more distinct political relationship with France; they’re the equivalent of Guam or the US Virgin Islands. They’re places that are owned by France but are arguably not part of France. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/353 "2021-01-23T06:15:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But overseas collectivities have a more distinct political relationship with France; they’re the equivalent of Guam or the US Virgin Islands. They’re places that are owned by France but are arguably not part of France. Maybe. Because different countries treat their overseas possessions differently, I use this rule: If an overseas possession is represented in the national legislature by fully participating representatives, then it’s part of the main country. Otherwise not. [Note that the US Virgin Is and Guam are not part of the US by this rule.] The wikipedia page on [French overseas collectives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_collectivity) says > [@](#): > > As integral parts of [France](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France), overseas collectivities are represented in the [National Assembly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_National_Assembly), [Senate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Senate) and [Economic and Social Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Economic_and_Social_Council) and can vote to elect members of the [European Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament) (MEPs). Sounds to me like collectives are part of the main country by my rule. However, I could be mistaken. Then there’s the question about whether Sint Maarten is part of the Netherlands according to my rule. I read part of the wiki page on [Kingdom of the Netherlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Netherlands) and it probably is not, but I can’t say for certain. ---
**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 23, 2021, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/354 "2021-01-23T07:27:34Z")
Fuck. Try to suss “UK”. Man is not technically part of the UK, but it is some sort of weird crown protectorate. Then there are Jersey and Guernsey, which are right off the French coast but somehow within the British sphere. And those random carribean islands that – arrgh. ---
**Author:** ![merrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@merrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrick)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/355 "2021-01-23T13:36:57Z")
Which leads to another geographical catch question - which two countries sharing a land border have their capitals farthest apart? Of course, it’s France and Brazil, 5,400 miles from Paris to Brasilia, beating out even Moscow-Pyongyang. Yes, Russia and North Korea have a land border. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/356 "2021-01-23T14:40:41Z")
I just found a map of South America from 1922. It looks like there have been zero border changes, and (excepting the Guianas) no country name changes. They did consider Panama as part of South America on the map. Am I correct? > **[1922 MAP SOUTH AMERICA ARGENTINA CHILE BRAZIL ECUADOR PERU COLOMBIA VENEZUELA ...](https://www.ebay.com/itm/1922-MAP-SOUTH-AMERICA-ARGENTINA-CHILE-BRAZIL-ECUADOR-PERU-COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA-/174049802517)** > > Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1922 MAP SOUTH AMERICA ARGENTINA CHILE BRAZIL ECUADOR PERU COLOMBIA VENEZUELA at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! ---
**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 23, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/357 "2021-01-23T16:32:21Z")
It certainly appears the mapmaker thought so. Did/does anyone else? That’s a different question. When I lived there (1980s), The part of Panama north = west of the canal was considered part of Central America and south = east of the canal was considered part of South America. I commuted intercontinentally every day to/from work. As did/do thousands of other people. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/358 "2021-01-23T17:11:33Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > They did consider Panama as part of South America on the map. Am I correct? Panama had been a part of Columbia until its secession in 1903. That may have still been considered recent history in 1922. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/359 "2021-01-23T18:30:34Z")
Since it appears that statues and stuff are also being discussed, I remember visiting Mount Rushmore for the first time and being rather disappointed at its size. Now, granted, it’s still big, objectively (faces are about 60 feet tall), but from seeing the pictures, I expected it to be one enormous mountainside or something. It seems that I am not alone in my perhaps unrealistic expectations. > **[Disappointing photos show how small Mount Rushmore is in real life](https://www.insider.com/mount-rushmore-is-small-disappointing-photos-2020-7)** > > Mount Rushmore is considered one of the most famous monuments in the US, but the attraction appears disappointingly small in real life. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/360 "2021-01-23T18:54:42Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > I just found a map of South America from 1922. It looks like there have been zero border changes If you look ore closely and compare it to modern maps, there are some border changes. For example, the border between Ecuador and Peru is way too straight in that map. The same for the Bolivia-Paraguay border. I don’t know the history of the former, but Paraguay and Bolivia fought a war in the 1930s over a disputed region called Chaco. Paraguay won and ended up with two thirds of that region. ---
**Author:** ![Drsunflower1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drsunflower1/32/12711_2.png) [@Drsunflower1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drsunflower1)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294/361 "2021-01-23T23:59:58Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Then there’s the question about whether Sint Maarten is part of the Netherlands according to my rule. I read part of the wiki page on [Kingdom of the Netherlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Netherlands) and it probably is not, but I can’t say for certain. It’s still part of the Kingdom. It’s become an autonomous region a couple of years ago, along with Curaçao and Aruba. Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire are now Dutch municipalities. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-geographical-misconceptions/929294.md?page=19)