The Republic of Climate Change Deniers

The United States is currently undertaking the biggest act of climate change denial in history.

One striking example is what is happening at the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Over 200 FEMA employees have been fired by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Those who remain have been ordered to remove all language related to climate change from FEMA websites and publications. Staff have also been instructed to report any colleagues who continue working on climate change-related projects.

This purge of climate-related information means that many of FEMA’s most useful tools have been censored by the Trump administration and can no longer be accessed by the public.

FEMA's Flood Map Service - Censored 

FEMA’s Flood Map Service once provided an essential tool for American citizens, allowing them to assess flood risks for any property in the country. Under the new regime, this information is no longer available. Whether you already own a home or are considering purchasing one, you are now banned from knowing the flood risks associated with your property.

FEMA's National Risk Index Map - Censored

Before Trump, FEMA’s National Risk Index Map allowed users to assess their vulnerability to 18 different natural hazards. This interactive tool visually represented areas most at risk from disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. Now, in the Republic of Trump, that information has been erased. Americans are no longer permitted to understand the environmental risks they face.

FEMA's Future Risk Map - Censored

This FEMA tool helped communities prepare for climate change by projecting the potential economic losses from environmental hazards such as coastal flooding, extreme heat, wildfires, hurricanes, and drought. The National Risk Index was a free resource that allowed Americans to explore how climate change might impact their neighborhoods. Now, that data has been wiped from public view.

The US Future Risk Map - Reclaimed and Resurrected

Thankfully, not all Americans are willing to bury their heads in the sand. After the Trump administration removed FEMA’s interactive Future Risk Map, independent researchers acted swiftly to preserve the data. Software engineers Jeremy Herzog and Rajan Desai salvaged screenshots and downloaded critical information before the administration erased it.

Using this data, they successfully rebuilt the interactive Future Risk Map. Their version, hosted independently, allows the public to continue accessing vital information about the risks of wildfires, hurricanes, extreme heat, drought, and coastal flooding.

Scrambled Vintage Maps

Vintage Scrambled Maps

There's a new Scrambled Maps game in town. If you have been enjoying Tripgeo's popular Scrambled Maps game then you will also love Vintage Scrambled Maps!

If you are a fan of maps and enjoy a good puzzle challenge, then Vintage Scrambled Maps is the perfect game for you! This unique and engaging game transforms historical maps into an interactive jigsaw-style experience, allowing players to piece together beautiful antique maps of New York and London. Whether you’re a map enthusiast, a history buff, or just someone who enjoys a brain-teasing game, Vintage Scrambled Maps is sure to captivate you.

How It Works

The game features a collection of gorgeous vintage maps sourced from the Library of Congress and the David Rumsey Map Collection. Players start by selecting a map from a set of thumbnail images. Once chosen, the map appears scrambled into multiple tiles - and your challenge begins!

To complete the puzzle, you must drag and swap the tiles to restore the original map. The goal? Solve the scrambled map in the fewest moves possible! 

Vintage Scrambled Maps is just the latest addition to Tripgeo's growing collection of interactive map games. As well as the original Scrambled Maps game, you might also enjoy GeoTripper (find the shortest route between random locations) and Jumbled World (correctly name every country in the world).

The Dot Map of America

One of my all-time favorite interactive maps was created by Dustin Cable at the University of Virginia. Unfortunately, the Racial Dot Map of America was removed in 2022. This map used data from the 2010 Census to place a colored dot on a map for every American - all 308,745,538 of them. As the name suggests, the color of each dot was determined by race.

The UVA map, based on 2010 Census data, was taken down after the 2020 Census because it was no longer considered to provide an accurate depiction of the nation's population distribution and changing racial composition.

Saddened by the loss of the Racial Dot Map of America, Luke Loreti took it upon himself to create a new version using data from the 2020 Census. His Census Dots follows the exact same methodology as the original, using colored dots to visualize the racial composition of the USA.

By using over 330 million colored dots, the map effectively illustrates the often stark racial divides in many communities. For example, in St. Louis, MO, a clear north-south divide emerges, with a dense white population in the south and a strong Black American presence in the north. The so-called Delmar Divide -named after Delmar Boulevard - is particularly evident on the Census Dots map.

Another great feature of the map is its dynamic URL, allowing users to link directly to specific locations, such as the Delmar Divide. This also makes it easy to share direct links to other interesting places discovered on the map.

Other U.S. racial dot map are also available. These include CNN's Race and ethnicity across the nation and All of US, which incorporates data from both the 2010 & 2020 Censuses.

Urban Growth in Motion

The City Population Bubble Chart with Proportional Text & Total Population is an animated bubble chart organized into a geographical map that visualizes population changes in cities worldwide from 1950 to 2035. The animation presents the populations of global cities over time, offering an overview of where urban populations are rising and falling.

The map uses data from the 2018 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects report, which outlines key urbanization trends and future projections. Crucially for this visualization, the report tracks population sizes and growth rates of cities worldwide and forecasts how these populations are expected to change up to 2050.

The changing sizes of the circles on the map effectively highlight global trends in urban populations. According to the UN report, many of the fastest-growing urban agglomerations are in Asia and Africa, a trend that becomes especially apparent on the map after 2010. Currently, Tokyo is the world’s largest city, with an agglomeration of 37 million inhabitants. However, the map illustrates how Delhi is projected to become the most populous city around 2028.

A significant limitation of mapping total population rather than population density is the issue of how city borders are defined. The map displays "urban agglomerations with 300,000 inhabitants or more in 2018," which may explain why London is absent—despite its metropolitan population of around 9 million, the City of London itself has only about 9,000 residents. However, my biggest complaint about the map is the lack of interactivity: the timeline cannot be paused or adjusted to select individual years. This restriction makes it impossible to examine the data in any detail.

Wiki Explore

Wiki Explore is a new application that overlays Wikipedia articles onto an interactive map, allowing users to discover information about the world around them. Each point on the map represents a location with an associated Wikipedia article, providing users with quick access into insights about their surroundings.

Why Use Wiki Explore?

For history enthusiasts, travelers, or curious minds, Wiki Explore offers a unique and engaging way to learn about the local area. Instead of manually searching Wikipedia for local knowledge and history, users can simply navigate the map to uncover interesting stories and locations near them. 

How It Works

Wiki Explore utilizes Mapbox as its base mapping platform, enhanced with a custom historical cartography-inspired design. Users can click on a location to view Wikipedia article excerpts and images. In areas with multiple points of interest, clustering is used to maintain readability, and a dropdown menu allows users to browse all articles in that location.

Alternatives to Wiki Explore

Wiki Explore is a well-executed example of a wiki-based map. However, I can't help but ask: why? There are already several excellent interactive maps that allow users to discover nearby points of interest through geolocated Wikipedia articles. While there may be room for another, Wiki Explore doesn’t offer much that isn’t already available on:

• NearbyWiki
• Wikimap
• Geopedia

Another alternative is the long-running Wikimapia, the 19-year-old collaborative mapping project that blends wiki-style content with interactive maps. On Wikimapia users can tag places, add descriptions, and categorize locations into various types, such as landmarks, businesses, and residential areas. Many tagged locations not only feature user-contributed content but also include links to relevant Wikipedia articles.

Rebuilding the Berlin Wall

choropleth election map showing the CDU dominant in the west and the AfD winning in the east

In my round-up of 2025 German Election Maps, I commented on the "stark contrast between the results in former East Germany and the rest of the country." It was immediately apparent to most observers of last week's German election that there was a clear voting split along the old East-West German border. In the west, the Christian Democratic (CDU/CSU) party was triumphant, while in the eastern part of Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was dominant.

However, according to Data Journalism Studio, this split is not as clear-cut as it first appears on German election maps. In German Elections: Did the Eastern Bloc Vote Radically? Not Exactly, the Data Journalism Studio uses a scrollytelling story map to illustrate how the actual results were more nuanced than the simple east-west divide suggests.

cartogram map of the German election revealing an urban-rural political divide

By switching from a traditional choropleth map to a cartogram view, the Data Journalism Studio demonstrates that German voting patterns were influenced as much by population density as by the former East-West divide. A cartogram, which represents each electoral district as a single hexagon, reveals this different perspective. This visualization shows that in major eastern cities like Berlin and Leipzig, voters actually supported Die Linke rather than the AfD.

Further cartogram views, displaying party support across Germany, reveal that while the AfD performed well in the rural areas of the east, they did not perform well in the largest cities. Additionally, a cartogram map highlighting where the AfD gained votes since the previous election suggests that the AfD gained new voters quite evenly across all of Germany.

Mapping Myths Across the World

Mythosjourney is 'an interactive global map of myths, legends, and folklore'. Throughout history, myths and legends have shaped our cultures, art, and traditions. Mythosjourney brings these stories to life by plotting them across the world, providing an immersive way to explore folklore through a geographic lens.

The platform allows users to interact with myths and legends by navigating an interactive map. Two drop-down menus also allow you to filter the results by country or classification. The classifications include ‘Deity,’ ‘Epic,’ ‘Folklore,’ ‘Legendary Creature,’ ‘Legendary Figure,’ and ‘Legendary Place.’

As a cartographer, I must admit I was immediately drawn to the ‘Legendary Place’ category. This includes well-known mythical locations such as El Dorado, Atlantis, and Camelot. However, it also features lesser-known places I hadn’t encountered before. For example, the islands of Chryse and Argyre in the Indian Ocean were said to be made of gold and silver, respectively.. Or in Morocco, there is the Garden of the Hesperides, a sacred orchard bearing golden apples.

By presenting myths geographically, Mythosjourney highlights how folklore has spread and evolved across different regions. Users can see how similar stories appear in distant cultures, suggesting ancient connections between civilizations. It also allows you to research the myths and legends associated with the locations near you, or to research the folklore associated with the different regions of the world.

What is Your Climate Vulnerability?

As climate change continues to reshape the environment, understanding the risks and vulnerabilities specific to different communities is more important than ever. The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index offers a new interactive mapping tool to help users visualize climate-related vulnerabilities across the country and to show which areas face the greatest challenges from the impacts of climate change. 

What Is the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index?

The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index is a comprehensive tool designed to measure and map climate vulnerabilities across various geographic areas. It presents data at both the county and tract levels, enabling users to zoom in on specific regions and gain a detailed understanding of the climate risks they face locally.

The map highlights areas of high vulnerability using darker colors, making it easy to spot regions that are most at risk. By selecting different indicators, users can explore specific factors contributing to climate vulnerability, such as socioeconomic conditions, environmental hazards, or infrastructure resilience.

Key Features of the Interactive Map

The map’s interface is intuitive and packed with useful features to help users navigate the data efficiently:

• Indicator Navigation Tree – Users can explore five levels of vulnerability indicators to better understand the drivers of climate risks.
• Cartogram View – This feature displays how climate risks vary across different states or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regions, helping users identify broader trends.
• Location Focus Bar – Clicking on a location provides in-depth details, including the region’s vulnerability level, national percentile score, and ranking for the selected indicator.
• Search and Filter Tools – Users can search for specific locations, zoom in and out, pan across different areas, and adjust the map scale filter to focus on high-vulnerability regions.

The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index is a powerful and accessible tool for anyone interested in understanding climate risks in their community and beyond. By offering an easy-to-navigate, data-rich interactive map, it empowers users with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about climate adaptation and resilience strategies.

You can explore the potential conflict risks which arrive from climate vulnerability on the Climate Conflict Vulnerability Index Map. The Climate Conflict Vulnerability Index Map identifies areas around the world where climate change and conflicts are likely to happen, and where people are especially vulnerable to these risks.

How It Works

The CCVI is built on three key factors:

• Climate: Looks at the risks caused by changes in weather, such as more intense storms, droughts, or floods.
• Conflict: Considers places where there is a higher chance of violence or conflict.
• Vulnerability: Focuses on how vulnerable people are based on things like poverty, poor infrastructure, or limited resources.

The tool combines all this data to figure out which regions are most at risk. It’s updated every three months and uses a system that breaks the world into small squares (about 55 km by 55 km) to analyze risks. If you hover over any of these squares on the map you can view each of the Climate, Conflict and Vulnerability Index scores for that region. You can also select either Climate, Conflict or Vulnerability form the map menu to view where in the world these risks are highest.

Why It Was Made

The CCVI was developed with support from the German government to help researchers, governments, and organizations understand where climate change and conflicts are most likely to create the biggest problems, so they can plan and take action to help those areas.

In short, the map shows where climate change and conflict might hit hardest, helping organisations and governments figure out how best to respond to these challenges.

The Battering School Kids Map

I was horrified to learn today that not only is corporal punishment legal in most of the U.S., but 20 states even allow schools to physically punish young children. The U.S. States Where Corporal Punishment is Allowed - IDRA Map shows where schools are permitted to use corporal punishment and also details how many schoolchildren have been subjected to it.

The map was created by the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) using data from the U.S. Department of Education from 2017-2018. A data dashboard of the corporal punishment incidents carried out in this year is also available.

According to the data, approximately 70,000 children were physically punished during the 2017-18 school year. Mississippi reported the highest number of students hit, with 20,388 pupils beaten. Texas (14,264 students beaten) and Alabama (9,174 students beaten) recorded the second and third highest numbers, respectively.

Upon first viewing the IDRA Map (shown at the top of this post), I was immediately reminded of U.S. "Black Belt" maps. It is, therefore, unsurprising to learn from the IDRA that in 2017-2018, "the rate of corporal punishment of Black students was twice as high as that of their white peers." The IDRA also reports that students "with disabilities experience higher rates of corporal punishment than their peers without disabilities."

It's a Scrambled World

If you're a fan of map-based puzzles, there's exciting news for you - Scrambled Maps has evolved into something bigger and better! 

Scrambled World, is a major new version of Scrambled Maps that expands the game beyond its classic format and introduces a host of new features designed to enhance your puzzle-solving adventure.

What is Scrambled Maps?

For those unfamiliar, Scrambled Maps is a game where map tiles are jumbled up, and players must rearrange them to form an accurate representation of a city, state, or country. Think of it as a jigsaw puzzle, but with real-world maps! The challenge lies in piecing together the correct layout in as few moves as possible.

What's New in Scrambled World?

Scrambled World takes the original Scrambled Maps concept and turns it into a comprehensive global experience. Here are some of the biggest additions in this update:

🌍 1. A Unified Gaming Platform

Scrambled World integrates both Scrambled Maps and Scrambled Hex Maps, giving players the choice between the traditional square-based layout and a more complex hexagonal variation. This means more flexibility and a fresh challenge for puzzle enthusiasts.

🎯 2. Progress Tracking on a Global Scale

One of the best new features in Scrambled World is the ability to track your progress. A new world map interface lets you visually track how many Scrambled Map games you have solved. Successfully unscrambled cities will be marked in green, providing a satisfying way to see your accomplishments. Plus, by signing in with your Google account, you can sync your progress across multiple devices - and never lose track of where you left off!

🔄 3. Customizable Objectives

Want to focus on specific regions? Now you can! Choose to master all cities within a country or, if you're in the U.S., concentrate on completing cities within a particular state. This feature makes gameplay feel more structured and goal-oriented.

🔍 4. Enhanced City Selection

Finding your next challenge is easier than ever with multiple ways to select cities:

• Search for a specific city
• Click on the world map to discover nearby locations
• Use the random city selector for a surprise challenge
• Follow the featured city of the day for a guided experience

🔄 5. Flexible Game Settings

Whether you prefer the classic square grid or the more advanced hexagonal layout, Scrambled World lets you switch between them seamlessly. You can also adjust grid sizes to match your skill level - perfect for both beginners and advanced players.

🗺 6. Explore Mode

Once you've completed a puzzle, switch to Explore mode to view an interactive map of the game area. This is a fantastic way to learn more about the cities and regions you've been solving!

Performance Improvements & Future Plans

Currently Scrambled World includes games for over 11,000 locations around the world, focusing on major population centers and historically significant places. 

Looking ahead, we are hoping to also include custom puzzle creation - which will allow players to generate map challenges for any location on Earth (and possibly beyond!).

Stay Connected & Share Your Thoughts

We value your feedback about the game - and so a new support messenger system has been added. This can be accessed via the envelope icon in the top left corner of the screen. Whether you have suggestions, encounter technical issues, or simply want to share your thoughts, we want to hear!

Ready to Start Your Puzzle Adventure?

With all these new features, Scrambled World is more engaging than ever. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Scrambled Maps or a newcomer looking for a fun way to test your geography skills, there’s never been a better time to dive in.

Start playing today on the original Scrambled Maps or take on the world by playing the new and enhanced Scrambled World - and see how many cities you can unscramble!