Top Ten Holiday Delicacies from Around the World

Ever wonder how people in other countries celebrate winter festivities, and what they eat? These international holiday delicacies show us a little bit about how others celebrate winter and religious festivals at the close of the year. Journey around the world and get a taste of ten traditional holiday foods unique and special to distinct countries.

Sorrel Recipe from Vegetarian Times

Jamaica – Sorrel

Sorrel is a traditional Christmas drink made from dried parts of the sorrel (a meadow plant), cinnamon, cloves, sugar, orange peel and rum, served over ice. The warm tropical weather of Jamaica means iced drinks are in order for the holidays, and incorporating native plants creates a recipe unique to the island.

Chili – Cola de Mono – Chilean Eggnog
This Chilean eggnog is a part of both Christmas and New Year’s Eve traditions. Usually homemade, the recipe varies but popular ingredients include milk, sugar, alcohol, coffee, cloves and vanilla beans.

United Kingdom - Christmas Pudding

United Kingdom map from mapsales.com

A traditional treat in England, Christmas Puddings are made from many dried fruits, spices, alcohol and held together by egg. The high content of alcohol allows the pudding to be aged for a month or even a year without spoiling, enhancing the flavor.

Greece – Loukoumades – Donuts

Loukoumades are pastries made of fried dough, soaked in sugary syrup or honey, and then covered with cinnamon and sometimes powered sugar. These pastries are often made as treats for Hanukkah in the Jewish tradition.

Mince Pies recipe from FoodHub

New Zealand – Christmas Mince Pies

Historically, ground beef with dried fruit and alcohol were baked into pie dough, though today mincemeat pies are usually made without meat at all. Strongly associated with Christmas, the three spices traditionally used in mince pies –cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon- are said to represent the three gifts given to the Christ child by the Magi.

Korea – Duk Gook – Rice Cake Soup

Korean Duk Gook, a soup filled with Korean rice cakes is eaten on the Winter Solstice or New Year’s Day. It is considered good luck to eat as many rice balls from the soup as years you have lived.

South Africa – Malvapoeding – Marshmallow Pudding

South Africa map from mapsales.com

Malvapoding, or marshmallow pudding, is smothered in a heavy cream and sugar-filled sauce, creating a spongy texture similar to marshmallows. The name ‘Malva’ came from Malvacea wine that Dutch colonists used to serve with the pudding in the 17^th century.

Medianyky recipe at The Ryersonian

Ukraine – Medianyky – Honey Cookies

These honey cookies look like lace and are cut into stars, crescents or circles. A popular tradition is to hang them on low branches of the Christmas tree for children to eat.

Hungary, Germany, Austria – krambambuli - Spicy Punch

This spicy punch is made with chamomile flowers, chopped fruit, candied orange peel, walnuts, sugar, rum, brandy and more. The specific recipe varies from family to family and country to country, but always a popular warm choice for wintertime festivities.

Philippines – Tsokolate – Hot Chocolate

Phillipines Map from mapsales.com

On Christmas day, families in the Philippines gather and drink tsokolate, a native chocolate drink made with egg yolks, milk and chocolate. Traditionally a batirol, a whisk with a spiky head, is used to make the hot chocolate.

Interested in Exploring the World on Wall Maps of your favorite countries and locations? Wall Maps make great gifts; use coupon code GIFT5642 at checkout to receive 15% off your order! Offer ends Tuesday, December 17th. 

DIY Creative Map Gifts for the Holidays

Feeling crafty? Get inspired by this list of stunning map crafts you can create and give as gifts this holiday season. We've collected dozens of ideas from the most popular pins on Pinterest and around the web.

Follow us on Pinterest for more map crafts and maps!

DIY Decoupage Maps for Unique Gifts

The strength of decoupage is that you can apply beautifully patterned maps to nearly any surface. Wood, metal, and even plastic receive an upgrade with vibrant maps. Choose maps by pattern and color or choose special places to enhance a gift for a loved one.

• Buckets
• Candles
• Crates
• Furniture
• Ornaments
• Coasters
• Magnets
• Wooden Blocks
• Photo Album
• Even Wooden Birdhouses
• Large Wall Art, check out this Large Map Canvas tutorial, then go get a large laminated wall map to begin!

Create Gifts with Paper Map Crafts

Use the ancient art of folding and cutting paper to create gifts with your own hands! From the simple, to the time-consuming crafts, your efforts to create handmade gifts will be appreciated.

• Decorate the door or hallway with a distinctive Map Wreath
• Origami is the art of folding paper; simple shapes to start with include:
•  Star
• Crane
• Rose 
• Boats
• Create a Paper Mobile for the newest member of the family
• Deck the halls with Map Bunting
• A Map Woven Basket is the perfect gift for someone who loves to display fruits, magazines, potpourri and more.
• Gift a Necklace made of Map Paper Beads or Gift the beads as part of a jewelry making kit.
• Hang a large Map Pendant as a centerpiece!

DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas

Using maps in your gift wrapping scheme creates a unique and special theme to display. Whether you are wrapping up large wall maps or small packages, spruce up your décor with these crafty gift wrapping ideas!

• Map Wrapping Paper is vibrant and special. Draw a route to your house from the North Pole directly on the map!
• Cut Gift Tags from paper maps to embellish simple wrapping paper. Cut their birthplace or favorite city so it appears next to their name.
• Map Cards memorialize your love in connection to a specific location.
• Cut and Fold Map Envelopes with this simple template
• Decoupage Gift Boxes for a keepsake that will last. This would work great for jewelry gift boxes or recipe boxes.

---> Find more map crafts, just follow us on Pinterest! 

Where Can I Find Maps to Craft with?

If you can’t find old maps to recycle or you want paper maps of your favorite locations in high-quality color, call or visit mapsales.com!

Shop Now!

Fun and Educational Wall Maps: Gifts for Kids

Looking for the perfect gift that is both fun as well as educational? We've picked out the top educational wall maps as perfect gifts for kids this holiday season! Give the gift that looks awesome on their bedroom wall and is a useful tool for homework reference and exploring the world! Educational wall maps are available for every grade level and age.

Cindy is halfway through first grade. We’re choosing a colorful World Deluxe Political Wall Map with protective lamination. We used poster putty to adhere the laminated wall map close to the ground, next to her coloring table. She has special dry erase markers she can use to decorate the world wall map.

Jennifer is in the fifth grade. She has a big test at the end of the year in which she has to write down every state and its capital by memory. The US Flags Wall Map has more than enough information to help her study! We recommend the US Wall Map with wooden rails so the map can be pulled down and revealed for study time.

Abraham is entering high school next year. He’s already into WWII weapons and machinery, so the World War II Europe Wall Map is the perfect choice for his interests as well as his World Cultures Class. We choose the magnetic wall map so he can track the location of troops as he reads more about the war.

Find Wall Maps for Kids

• Wall Maps on wooden rails
• Shop Wall Maps by Grade
• World, USA, Continent, State Wall Maps
• Historical, Social, Political and other wall maps
• Wall Map Bundles for classrooms or gifts

Gift Guide: Contemporary & Stylish Wall Maps for Her

Welcome to our series of Gift Guides for the Holidays 2013.

Looking for the perfect gift for her? From the most popular wall décor to practical travel items, mapsales.com offers a wide selection of gifts for every personality!

The Most Popular Gifts for Wall Map Décor

• Recognizable Wall Maps of the World
• Popular Wall Maps of the USA
• In political, physical, satellite and antique styles!

Give Her Inspiration for Her Travels

• Over 200 countries around the world
• Explore Canada
• Maps of Every State in the USA

Invite Her to Explore the Outdoors

• National Park Maps
• Topographic Maps for hiking
• Any map can be printed on synthetic paper, perfect for traveling and hiking in any weather

Personalize her gift with her name and a special date; simply call us to personalize her wall map! 

1-888-434-6277

Map News: This Month’s Best Articles and Maps

I've scoured the web for the most interesting Map News this month for all you map-lovers!

Map Comic this month from Savage Chicken

New Maps of Alaska: : New mapping data changes what we know about the landscape of Alaska, with some data that hadn’t been updated for 50 years! The results? The highest mountain in North America, Mount McKinley, is shorter than previously thought…Read More

Even with a GPS, You Can’t Get There From Here: Join us on a road trip through Maine, where getting lost with a GPS is painfully easy. Get your paper maps ready for visiting the rural portions of the USA…Read More

Where is the Center of Each United State? And why would you care to know? Some interesting and some funny insights…Read More

What Did the Continents Look Like Millions of Years Ago? Features an interview with artist-geologist Robert Blakey. This article goes into serious depth and really shows the making of these astounding maps in detail. The comment section is pretty interesting as well!…Read More

Facts for Features: Halloween: Did you know the Census Bureau publishes a series on dates and holidays? It boosts interesting facts gathered from all over the immense census database. For example, 47,800 acres of pumpkins were harvested in the US in 2012! Read More Halloween Facts

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Weekly Map News

This Week in Maps

Sharing your one-stop list for interesting mapping, geography, GIS, and cartography news, articles and new maps!

Atlas of True Names - Find the literal meaning of any location! USA and Canada atlases released this year.

This is Your Brain on Maps - Humorous article showing how distorted the human head looks on popular map projections. A powerful example of the difficulties of displaying a 3-D globular object on a 2-D space.

'Squatch Watch: 92 Years of Bigfoot Sightings in the US and Canada - Mapping Bigfoot Sightings, Joshua Stevens finds a correlation between high sightings and low population that narrows down possible locations...mapping fun, even if you don't believe in Bigfoot!

Sea Monsters: A Voyage Around the World's Most Beguiling Map - A fantastical exploration of bizarre and imaginary creatures, by Joseph Nigg, published by University of Chicago Press last month.

New Thermometer Charts for Fundraising, Goals and Competitions

How to use Fundraiser Thermometer Charts for Fundraising

Introducing…DaVinci Business Graphics Website Relaunch!

NEW: Thermometer Charts display your progress in a visual, large chart. Simply write in your goals with dry-erase markers and then color the laminated thermometer as you reach your goals! Thermometer charts are a great motivation tool for fundraisers, sales team, businesses, schools, or any other goal-oriented project.

New Thermometer Charts for your Business & Community

Fundraising Thermometer Charts: Get organized and reach fundraising goals with DaVinci Business Graphic’s Fundraising Thermometer Chart. Schools, community groups and more use Fundraising Thermometer Charts to keep track of donations, services or items, or volunteer sign-ups. You can take a Fundraising Thermometer Chart anywhere with you. Get more donations with a vibrant & visual chart!

DaVinci Business Graphics Also Offers These New Thermometer Charts:

Goal Thermometer Charts: Track the progress of any sales, business or personal goal with a Goal Thermometer Chart.

Dual Thermometer Charts: Foster healthy competition while tracking goals side by side with a Dual Thermometer Chart.

Choose your size, color, and add a custom title before ordering. It’s easier than ever to customize your thermometer charts online…or call today to further customized your charts, calendars and maps!

Check out what else is new on DaVinciBG.com!

Mapping Canada’s Mineral Resources

With Beautiful Landscapes & Wall Maps of Canada

Lake Louis, Alberta, Canada from Piriya Photo

Geo-Mapping is the Key to Mineral Opportunities in Canada's North

GEM is the Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals program, recentlyrefunded to facilitate exploration activities in Canada’s North.

Why are Mineral Resources so Important?

Canada’s mineral resources include gold, diamonds, copper, zinc and lead among others. The mining sector is proportionally the largest private sector employer of Aboriginal peoples in Canada, and employment is poised to increase (Exploration and Mining Guide toAboriginal Communities).

This Canada Physical Wall Map features lakes, rivers, mountain ranges with a range of colors. 

Mapping Canada’s Mineral Resources

Canada is the number 1 destination for mineral exploration on the planet since 2006. Like Canada’s neighbor, Alaska (which we explored in Alaska's Frontiers: Mapping Strategies for Mineral Resources), Canada is abundant in mineral resources, but largely unmapped. Mapping these key resources will show the best locations for mining and minimize environmental impact.

British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon Wall Map 1978 Wall Map

The Future: Looking at the Past on Wall Maps of Canada

National Geographic’s 1978 take on Canada as “Beauty to Flaunt and Bounty to Grown On” on this vintage Canada Wall Map shows that the vast resources of Canada were enviable several decades ago as well. As time goes on and development continues, unexplored areas become more desirable and even more important for further development.

Pingualuit Crater, Northern Canada

GbBIS at Oracle OpenWorld 2013

Join us at Oracle OpenWorld 2013!

Oracle OpenWorld in San Francisco 2013 features thousands of sessions from which attendees can choose, including keynotes, technical sessions, demos, and hands-on labs. Hundreds of exhibitors (including us!) will be on hand to share what they’re bringing to the leading edge of Oracle technology.

Look for GbBIS at booth 200!

GbBIS --Geography-based Business Information Solutions-- provides accurate postal data and mapping geographies, geo-data and analytics to manage growth and business operations. For a better understanding of customers, markets, optimal territories and site selection, GbBIS provides the geographic, demographic and location intelligence you need. 

And, you can still register below!

Why Is North Up on Maps? Upside Down Maps Break Conventional Perspective

Why Is North Up on Maps?

We see it everyday, even on google maps: North is at the top, up, above on most 2-dimensional depictions of the world. But why is north up on maps so often that countries become unrecognizable when show 'upside down'?

Maps Throughout History

Throughout history, the orientation of maps has actually changed more than you might have assumed. In medieval Europe during the crusades, Jerusalem was positioned at the top of the map, putting East at the top. This alignment to where the sun rose helped give us the word ‘orient’.

Arabic maps placed south at the top. Possibly because when one wakes up to face the sun, south is on the right (right having a positive connotation).

In the west, the tradition of orienting maps to the north began with the 5th century Alexandrian geographer Claudius Ptolemy. Ptolemy’s work, the Geographica, is considered the first known geography. Ptolemy was familiar with Polaris, the North Star, and in order to encapsulate his known world and celestial space, he chose to make north up on maps.

North-South Up-Down Concept Affects Perceptions

Similarly, as explorers continued on the quest to map the world in later centuries it was easier to start a map at the top, with the area explorers were most familiar with: the Northern hemisphere. Writing location names and notes in this orientation discouraged the turning or rotation of maps so north remained up on maps.

The orientation of maps is reflective of and has an effect on our perception of the world. We often think of space in the form of ‘above’ and ‘below’ according to the North is Up perspective on most modern maps. That city is ‘below the river’. The United States is ‘above Mexico’ and ‘below Canada’. Australia is known as the ‘land down under’. Although literally ground is below and sky is above nearly any given location, because maps have taught us that north is up and south is down, we talk about places in this way.

View The World From a Different Perspective on Upside Down Maps

Upside down maps force us to view the world differently. When we see south at the top of the map and north at the bottom, we may notice new things about the world. For instance, on an upside down map it is easier to notice:

• most of the land mass of the world is concentrated in the northern hemispheres
• South America is more south-east than directly south of North America
• Europe appears less significant ‘below’ the large continent Africa

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Master List of Map and Geography Jokes!

mapsales.com has searched the web far and wide for the best map jokes. We’ve included funny geography jokes and travel jokes as well. Whether you are taking a family trip or teaching students about geography, map jokes can break the ice and get children and adults conversing about places around the world, geography and maps!

Enjoy these funny map jokes!

Q. What do John Wayne and a map key have in common?
A. Both are legends.

Q. Why do paper maps never win at poker?
A. Because they always fold.

Q. What did the mapmaker send his sweetheart on Valentine’s Day?
A. A dozen compass roses.

Q: What always sits in the corner but can move all round the world?
A: A stamp!

Q: Why is it easy to get into Florida?
A: Because there are so many keys.

Q: What is round at each end and high in the middle?
A: Ohio.

Q: What did the sea say to the shore?
A: Nothing, it just waved!

Q: What do fish and maps have in common?
A: They both have scales!

Q: What kind of maps do spiders make?
A: Web-based maps!

Q. What is smarter, longitude or latitude?
A. Longitude, because it has 360 degrees

Q. Why does west longitude need to be cheered up?
A. Because it is always negative.

Q. What map element plays in the band?
A. The symbols (cymbals).

Q: What’s a map favorite type of syrup?
A: Map-le syrup!

Q: Where do fish keep their money?
A: In riverbanks.

Q: Where is it always 90 degrees, but never hot?
A: The North and South Poles.

Q: What do you get if you cross a farm animal with a map maker?
A: A cow-tographer!

Q: What rock group has four men that don't sing?
A: Mount Rushmore!

Q: What would you get if you crossed a river and a desert?
A: Wet and thirsty.

Q: Who is the coldest relative on earth?
A: Aunt Arctica.

Q: What's the coldest city in Germany?
A: Brrr lin (Berlin).

Q: Where can you find lots of shoes?
A: In the foothills!

If you liked these map jokes, share them with your friends!

Tips for Hiking in the Rain: Synthetic Maps Won’t Get Wet!

Explore the Outdoors with Synthetic Topographic Maps

Backpackers, get ready for your summer adventures with detailed topographic maps from mapsales.com. All you need is a map and a compass to start exploring!

Topographic Quad Map of Mount Saint Helen

1. Choose Synthetic Maps

However, weather is unpredictable, and in the summer, sudden rains can make navigating (especially with electronic devices!) difficult. There are a few options for adventurers:

• Put your maps in plastic sleeves (difficult to remove and open to new section without getting the paper wet)
• Get Laminated Maps (difficult to fold)
• Get Synthetic Maps!

Synthetic Paper Maps are water-resistant and fold-able, perfect for hiking in any weather!

2. Get Detailed Topographic Maps

County Topographic Maps Feature

• Every County Across the USA
• Contour Lines with Elevation and Shape of Terrain
• Towns, Water Ways and Other Landmarks
• Quad Maps show Even Greater Detail

3. Have a Back-up Plan

While we don’t like having to rely on GPS (sometimes they spoil the fun of exploring!) it’s good to have a back-up plan. This may take some extra planning, including: overestimating the time it will take you to navigate, bringing extra food and water, having a meeting place and a plan for bad weather! Plan alternate routes in case of flooding rivers or low visibility of geographic features.

Your back-up plan should also include having a back-up map or GPS system on hand!

So, this summer, put your GPS away (as a backup) and explore the outdoors with the old-fashioned compass and map, even in the rain!

Vintage Wall Maps: Interior Decor with Vintage Maps

Continuing our interior décor series, mapsales.com shows how to display beautiful large vintage maps. If you’re impatient and don’t want to spend time scouring flea markets and secondhand shops for old maps, simply make a new map look old! Add some wooden rails to give any map a vintage charm. I’ve found some great examples of gorgeous wooden vintage maps on pinterest recently and I’ll show you how to get the look!

Choose any map and add wooden rails to create a vintage wall map.

Get a vintage wall map of Europe.

Get this wooden rails vintage map.

Get this vintage world map with wooden rails.

Maps with wooden rails establish a classic, vintage classroom style instantly!

I’ve also spotted some nifty DIY Map Crafts and Artwork across the web and on pinterest.

A penchant for the unusual? Take a look at the oddest, most bizarre maps.

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DIY Map Crafts: Beautiful Map Artwork and Do-it-Yourself Map Crafts

Here are some of the best map crafts we've seen around the web lately. If you follow us on pinterest, you can find even more map do it yourself crafts and art.

There’s no limit to what you can do with maps. Already graphically engaging and informative, maps lend themselves well to incorporation or inspiration in all kinds of art. Artists render their own maps using an outline as a starting point, or cut, paste and overlay maps for visual interest. We love what these artists have done with maps!

Like this beautiful quilled map by Amber Rousse. You can tell she spent many hours perfecting each quill. The land even has mountains! Now that’s a three dimensional map!

We love this DIY map clock, it’s beautiful and inexpensive! The materials? Clock workings, a round tin plate and a map. You could do this with any map, or get a custom map printed just for you!

Create a wall full of maps! Your own unique map wallpaper of the places you been, and/or where you dream to go one day! We love this example of DIY map wallpaper. You can take any maps, old, new, vintage, antique and artistically design your own world.

Simple and elegant, these vintage maps are craftily displayed in wooden embroidery hoops. Similarly, you could use maps of any location and any style to achieve this look. Reminds me of maps with wooden rails because they have this vintage feel to them!

A beautiful wedding gift. This map could represent the location and date of the wedding, where they met, or the location of the proposal. If you’re not a designer, you can get a custom map made with the location marked and the names printed in any design, of any location!

I hope you felt inspired and not intimidated by all this beautiful DIY map artwork! And, if you don’t have crazy amounts of time or the will to stay up all night and craft with maps, you can always go to mapsales.com and shop for beautiful paper, laminated, framed and magnetic maps of all sizes (even large enough to cover an entire wall!). Or call and have a map custom designed just for you!

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Texas State Maps: Best Wall Maps of Texas

Texas State Maps with roads, cities, counties, outlines, colors and more!

mapsales.com has compiled a list of our favorite Texas State Maps. Whether you're planning a trip, marking business locations or decorating your home, if Texas holds a place in your heart, the beautiful state terrain belongs on your walls too!

Texas Satellite Wall Map 

This Texas State Map shows what TX looks like from space! The striking map combines images obtained from NASA's Landsat satellites with 3-D shading to provide an image of Texas unlike anything you've ever seen. High resolution satellite imagery and clear visibility of individual crop fields  rivers, urban areas, and even large airports make this Texas Wall Map stand out in vivid detail. Order the largest size which will fit your wall to enhance the visibility of detail. Enjoy the natural beauty of the state of Texas with a Texas Satellite Wall Map!

Texas County Outline Map

This Texas State Map features county names and boundaries with major cities. The clear county borders and lack of clutter make this state map great for businesses! Use dry erase markers to write on this laminated map. Color in your county, or your business's market areas on this Texas County Outline Map.

Texas Zip Code Map with Cities

This Texas State Map features a beautiful red colorcasting of all major highways and roads across Texas. Find all major cities on this Texas Map with cities. Insets feature road maps of 17 metro areas. With 5 digit zip codes and a zip code grid locator, the Texas Zip Code Map shows the details you need for finding locations and planning road trips!

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Napa Valley Winery Map: Plan a Visit to the California Country

Explore Napa Valley Wine Country on this beautiful wall map! World over, Napa Valley is popular for its wines, wineries and vineyards. Located just north of San Francisco in northern California, Napa Valley boosts beautiful sunny weather and lush fields.




Planning a trip to Napa Valley this summer? Use this beautifully designed Napa Valley Winery Map to plan your trip!

Find the locations of Napa Valley wineries & vineyards. The vineyard location legend tells you accessibility features, hours, contact info and cross-referenced locations. This Napa Valley Winery Map is perfect for planning your vacation to visit the Napa Valley County in California.


There are over 150 Vineyards & Wineries on the Napa Valley Winery Map, including these popular locations:

• Joseph Phelps Vineyard
• Bravante Vineyards
• Domaine Carneros
• Artesa Vineyards & Winery
• Silverado Vineyards

This Napa Valley Winery Wall Map features:

• Vineyards
• Cities
• Interstates/Highways
• Secondary Roads
• Physical Terrain
• Latitude/Longitude lines
• Points of Interest
• Legend
• Index
• Elevation Info

Zoom in on the Napa Valley Winery Map to see the stunning detail. Great for planning, this wall map also makes a wonderful keepsake that will display the memories of your trip for years.

Best Yosemite National Park Map

What's the best Yosemite National Park Map to plan a trip with?

Yosemite has some killer maps, photos and stories all across the web...here's a couple of map options so you can plan your trip with the best Yosemite National Park Map!

View this Yosemite National Park Map

What does this Yosemite National Park Map by Geonova feature?

• All campground locations
• Points of Interest including Yosemite Falls, Badger Pass, Wapama Falls and more!
• Mountains with peak height
• Information Center locations
• Locations of lakes and rivers
• Detailed roads and trails

Zoom in on Yosemite Park Map

How does it compare to the Yosemite National Park Map by National Geographic?

• Detailed topography
• Picnic as well as campground locations
• Hiking train mile markers - know how long trails are!

The result? While we love the Yosemite National Park Map by Geonova for the vivid color, it's better as a keepsake and  decorative map. The Yosemite National Park Map by National Geographic is the best map for planning, traveling and camping in Yosemite Park.

What are some interesting facts about Yosemite National Park?

• Giant Sequioas are the largest living things on the planet! They grow in Yosemite National Park
• The vast majority of the park's 1,200 square miles is uninhabited by humans and often only 7 square miles are traversed by visitors!
• Yosemite contains 20% of California's 7,000 known plant species.
• Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America and third highest in the world, standing out at 2425 feet.

Places on Earth that Look like Mars

Landscapes of Mars? Some photoshop trick? No, these weird places are real...and a lot closer than they look. On earth, in fact! Take a look at these places on earth that look like Mars and see where they are really located on wall maps.

Rio Tinto, Spain 

The tinted waters of Rio Tinto in Spain give an eerie martian glow. Acidic with a pH of 2 and a deep redish hue, Rio Tinto looks both alien and beautiful. The extreme conditions in the river are analogous to other locations in the solar system thought to contain liquid water, such as subterranean Mars. The Rio Tinto is located in southwestern Spain, originates in the Sierra Morena mountains of Andalusia and flows to the Gulf of Cádiz at Huelva.

Lake Natron, Tanzania

The red coloration in lake Natron occurs as salt-loving microorganisms are colored red and use photosynthesize with red pigmented accessories. See it on a Wall Map of Tanzania!

Yellowstone National Park, USA

The weird colors of Yellowstone National Park are caused by the extremophiles living in very hot water. The landscape of Yellowstone National Park is varied and unusual due to the high concentration of geothermal features including geysers, volcanic activity and earthquakes.

And, finally, see a physical wall map of Mars, with all the physical features we have mapped despite the 50-100 million kilometers of distance between Earth and Mars.