Geography Briefs

Ever wonder, "Why'd Rand McNally do that?" The world is constantly changing, and it is impossible to turn around without a new political, cultural, and economic situation developing in the world. Keep up-to-date on the changes occurring around the globe.

Here you can also learn more about the technical side of mapping. Dazzle your students by explaining the advantages of the Robinson projection or by expounding upon the world's newest country.

About the Continents

Students learning about the continents often ask challenging questions. This informational brief will attempt to answer some of the most common of these questions. PDF Download

Country Names

Have you ever heard of the Eastern European country called Magyarország? How about Misr, the African country that is home to the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx? Surely you're familiar with Zhongguo, the most populous country in the world? This brief discuss how naming conventions are different for countries depending on where you live. PDF Download

European Union

On January 1, 2007, the countries of Romania and Bulgaria became the newest members of the European Union (EU). The addition of these two countries brings the total number of member countries to 27. Learn more about the history of the European Union with this brief. PDF Download

How many countries

How Many Countries Does the World Have? This seems like a simple question, but the answer is somewhat complicated. This is mainly because "country" is not a very precise term; it can refer to several different types of political entities. Learn the number with this brief. PDF Download

Robinson Projection

There's a conundrum involved in making maps of the world: how do you depict the earth's spherical surface on a flat sheet? The truth is, there is no perfect way to do so. Only a globe can accurately show the earth. Making flat maps requires cartographers to stretch, enlarge, shrink, and otherwise distort land and water areas. PDF Download

Southern Ocean

Getting to know the Southern Ocean. The World's Fifth Ocean. As children, we all learned that there are four oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic. So why does a fifth ocean now appear on Rand McNally maps? Learn more about the fifth ocean with this brief. PDF Download

World Changes

If you were to compare a world map from 1990 with one from 2010, how many changes could you find? The answer is: lots. Each year has seen changes both political and physical take place in the world. Many of the changes have been significant. PDF Download