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20 Countries on a Topological Map #2
Can you guess these 20 countries, highlighted in blue, on a topological map of the world?
A topological map is a type of diagram that has been simplified so that only vital information, such as borders, remains. Other details, such as size and shape, have been removed.
Very true! However, I don't include borders from overseas territories (such as Hans Island) similar to what is specified in this quiz: https://www.jetpunk.com/quizzes/one-border-countries-quiz
Just when I think I understand one of these, I get Bangladesh tucked around a corner, behind some black "large body of water." Is there some practical application for these things? I can't imagine how or why a map like this would be in any way useful.
Your typical subway map is topological. I don't know any specific use for this map other than for a fun, tricky quiz, but if you wanna talk about things with no practical application a lot of refrigerators these days can connect to the Internet, so...
The Americas are on the left. Europe is in the centre-top, Africa is in the centre-bottom and Asia wraps around the right connecting to Europe at the top but only joins Africa in a small zone in the middle of the diagram (Egypt/Israel). The Arabian Peninsula doesn't directly border the rest of Asia apart from a few countries, so it's isolated in a horseshoe shaped area with those black borders representing the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea (clockwise, respectively).
I really enjoyed the challenge of re-processing information that I already had mentally stored in one way, but in a new way. Guess not everyone will find that, but props to the maker - great quiz.
What is most head-scratching about this is that there is definitely north-south and east-west fidelity for the most part (US is north, Paraguay and Ecuador are south, Asia is east, etc.), but then within continents that pretty much goes out the window, and you have Spain in the far NW corner of Europe, for example, and Egypt south of Gambia, taking up most of western Africa. Not sure how that makes sense.
Overall, the cardinal directions have little significance in the map – I only positioned the continents in their "normal" regions of the world to provide some needed context. Other than that, the positions of individual countries are only dependent on the borders they share with other countries. Size and shape also have no significance. I can see how it can be confusing, so I hope this helps!
I haven't attempted this yet, as I have questions the description raises but does not answer. For instance, if size and shape have been omitted, why are they shown with different shapes and sizes? Are they roughly the same size relative to one another, or is the size purely arbitrary? What about shape? Are rectangles longer in their east-west orientation, or is that arbitrary too?
I include all these as suggestions for clarifying the description.
Size and shape are purely arbitrary and do not have significance on which country is which. It is necessary, however, to make each country different shapes and sizes to maintain the correct borders between countries (and to fit them into a neat, organized map).
As an example, one common type of topological map is a subway map which usually does not convey distances between stops, but merely the order of stations and at which stations the subway lines intersect. As such, this quiz only illustrates the borders between countries while leaving shape and size largely arbitrary.
The bodies of water don't necessarily have the same strict borders as they do on a geographic map of the world – the black areas are simply meant to indicate that certain countries border a body of water.
I still don't fully understand what these are...but i keep getting perfect scores. Like I was able to instinctively know that Moldova was one with no guessing.
congrats to those who prevailed.
I really enjoyed the challenge of re-processing information that I already had mentally stored in one way, but in a new way. Guess not everyone will find that, but props to the maker - great quiz.
I include all these as suggestions for clarifying the description.
Overall, an intriguing premise.
As an example, one common type of topological map is a subway map which usually does not convey distances between stops, but merely the order of stations and at which stations the subway lines intersect. As such, this quiz only illustrates the borders between countries while leaving shape and size largely arbitrary.
Managed to get 19/20 though some of it was pretty difficult, thought of Gambia just as time ran out, so close
Idk which "type of intelligence" is supposed to be needed for this but I find them super intuitive and logical.