What’s the difference between a gulf and a bay? Geography terms explained on map from 1870.


Geographic terms can be a little bit confusing. What’s the difference between a cape and a peninsula or a gulf and a bay? Are channel, strait, passage and sound the same thing? Defining these and other terms can be difficult event using a dictionary.

A map called “Bancrofts’ pictorial chart of geographical definition” from around 1870 found at the David Rumsey Collection is illustrating these terms with a text description. This pictorial map is showing typical topographic features like cities, villages, mountains, seas, islands etc. in a great level of detail. It’s truly amazing.

pictoral chart of geographical definitions Geoawesomeness

source: VOX

Aleks Buczkowski