Map #65: November 13, 2017

Difficulty Level: 7

Click here for a full-size version of this week’s map.

This map is a dot map of the world. (Do you need a refresher on what a dot map is? Visit our “Basics” page for a quick primer.) We have put borders around each dot on this map so that you can distinguish one from another. There are many places where several dots overlap, and in a few spots we have spread the dots out just enough so that you should be able to tell how many there are. It should be possible, especially if you zoom in, to get a feel for the general pattern of dots. As always, your job is to figure out what this dot map represents.

Stumped? Check back Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for hints about where to focus your investigation. The answer will be posted on Monday, November 20. Good luck!

Tuesday’s hint: There are no dots on this map in the Southern Hemisphere. That is likely to change next year, when a dot will be needed in Mozambique.

Wednesday’s hint: Many people have found it helpful to investigate the dot in Kazakhstan. That dot corresponds to the city of Semey, a port on the Irtysh River very close to the border with Russia. What can you learn about Semey that might help you make sense of this dot map?

Thursday’s hint: One thing you may have noticed about this map is that many of the dots are fairly close to major bodies of water. It might help if you try to locate and then zoom in on the dots nearest to the following waterways: the Straits of Mackinac, the Great Belt, the Bosporus, and the Akashi Strait. What do these four waterways have in common?

Friday’s hint: If you zoomed in on the dot in Denmark, you may have tried to figure out whether the dot is on the island of Zealand or the island of Fyn. Actually, it’s between those two islands.

Answer: Click here to see an explanation of the answer to this week’s map question.

Next map: Click here to try out our newest map question.