- mostly unusual cool maps of countries or continents -

torsdag

Transnistria - the county that barely exists
























Trans-Dniester Region or Transnistria (2004 preliminary pop. 555,000), between the Dniester River and the Ukrainian border. A narrow territory some 120 mi (195 km) long but barely 20 mi (32 km) across at its widest, Transnistria has a mainly Russian and Ukrainian population (59.2%, slightly more of whom are Russian) that objects to Moldovan-Romanian rapprochement.

Armed clashes between Moldovan forces and Trans-Dniester secessionists (mostly Russians and Ukrainians) led to Russian army intervention on the side of the secessionists in the early 1990s, and the proclamation of a Trans-Dniester Republic, with Tiraspol as its capital. The republic has not been internationally recognized. A peace accord with the Moldovan government giving the region greater autonomy was signed in 1997.

Beyond the control of any strong national government, the region has become an international transit center for smuggled goods; metal and electronic goods, textiles, and wine are produced. A Russian-sponsored peace plan for the region was rejected by Moldova in Nov., 2003, after Moldovan demonstrations against it; the deal would have permitted Russian troops to remain until 2020. Under pressure from the European Union , which was concerned about the region's involvement in smuggling, Ukraine began requiring in 2006 that goods from Transnistria be cleared by Moldovan customs. Transnistria denounced the new rules as an economic blockade, and refused to allow cargo to cross its border with the Ukraine, a move the Ukraine termed a self-blockade.

A regional referendum in Sept., 2006, approved independence and eventual union with Russia. The vote, however, was rejected by Moldova, the EU, and most other nations, with the major exception of Russia, but there was little sentiment in Russia for union with the region.

Maps and info found in the Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008

More here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transnistria

mandag

Russian Balkan






















CENTRAL AND EASTERN Europe as it appeared in 1898. The black lines in the map indicated a “future possible partition” of Austria-Hungary, between Russia, Germany and a new Russian Balkan.

found on: leelanaunews.com

søndag

Jewish Autonomous Oblast























Jewish Autonomous Oblast (190,915 inhabitants) is a federal subject of Russia situated in the Far Eastern federal district, bordering Khabarovsk Krai and Amur Oblast of Russia and Heilongjiang province of China. The region was created in 1934 as the Jewish National District. It was the result of Joseph Stalin's nationality policy, which allowed for the Jewish population of Russia to receive a territory in which to pursue Yiddish cultural heritage within a socialist framework.

Tax Havens in the World

Kosova - a flag and a map


Native Asia

Africa in Perspective

Iraq and Texas - finally together

South Africa is a crowded place

Tribes of Iraq

Taiwan and the World

worst map of europe ...



















After the map was printed somebody added Denmark...

Ireland post card

From New Zealand with Love

Walt Disney map of the US

The great beer drinking people of Estonia

O Canada

onsdag