interesting maps

http://www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/worldmapper/index.html

is fascinating. It's a collection of maps that shows the areas of the world based on their importance in different aspects. For example the population map shows the most densely populated countries as large and the less densely populated countries as smaller. There is a collection of over 50 maps showing population, birth rates, population of elderly, tourist destinations, air travel, rail travel, ownership of private cars, imports of alcohol and tobacco, etc. Each map can be printed as a poster. Also thankfully each map has a link to a standard map to remind yourself of the true geographic sizes of the different countries.