Ever tried to find a free map on the internet? It can be an overwhelming and difficult task. This researcher has pulled together a list of the best sites for a world map or atlas. They are as follows:
Best Variety of Maps
To find free world maps online, a great place to start is World Atlas, which provides a myriad of information along with all sorts of maps. Print a map of the world or of the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. Click on any continent to get its history and facts, its time zone or time zones, and a printable map. Click on any country or province and get a printable map. Print a set of maps defining the hemispheres, and find out the current time anywhere in the world.
These maps do not have any watermark or brand on them, and they are copyrighted. The maps from this site are low-resolution and will pixelate if enlarged considerably, but the educational information and the variety of maps available are a goldmine. North and South America always appear near the far left of the world maps on this site.
Best World Maps
Wikimedia has an amazing assortment of blank maps of the world, world maps with themes (using various economical, political, and social categories), topographic world maps, and old world maps. These maps are all absolutely free, and the majority of them are high-resolution. North and South America always appear near the far left of these maps as well. Please consult their terms of use if you are interested in using these maps commercially.
Most Beautiful World Maps
These free, high-resolution world maps (ginkgomaps.com) can be downloaded in JPG or PDF format, and can even be used commercially. They cover oceans, sea ice and clouds; topography; and city lights at night. These maps are not Americas-centric (you can choose whether you want North and South America on the far left or the far right), and could easily be used as artwork. They have no outlines of countries or states/provinces. The maps from this site can be reproduced commercially, as long as credit is given to the site.
Watermarked World Maps
Free World Maps offers a few world maps which can be downloaded in GIF or PDF format, such as with or without country outlines, and an unusual cylindrical map of the world. The site also offers physical, contour, and political maps in low, medium, and high resolution for free, however they contain the company's watermark. The "high-resolution" copy is only 150 kb, and is available without the watermark for $9.99 US. This same site also offers continent, country, and province maps by clicking on the desired continent on the world map. From there, click on the desired country for a map of that country. Use the right-click on the mouse, then select Save Image As to download the continent or country maps to your computer.
Each of these sites offers custom maps for a price, so if you have something unusual in mind, you can get the perfect map made!
Terry Burris - Terry Burris enjoys marketing businesses on shoestring budgets. She studied Spanish and French literature in college, and marketing and ...
