A Map Of Travel Distances – London To The World

Map Travel Distances London
In 1914, John G. Bartholomew, a member of a renowned Edinburgh family known for their expertise in map-making and the official cartographer for King George V, released “An Atlas of Economic Geography.” This book was designed for young students and encompassed a comprehensive resource for aspiring entrepreneurs, imperialists, traders, or explorers.

In addition to the expected charts detailing rainfall, temperature, and terrain, the atlas included maps indicating the geographical sources of rubber, cotton, or rice. Moreover, it featured maps displaying the prevalence of commercial languages, offering essential guidance for business endeavors in various regions. For example, if you were interested in conducting business in Indonesia, you’d know to use Dutch. Furthermore, the atlas presented maps illustrating the prevalence of climate-related diseases, providing valuable information for travelers. For instance, it cautioned about the risk of tropical dysentery in Indonesia. Among its contents, there was also the map displayed below, which indicated the travel duration from London, ranging from 5 to 40 days. Map Travel Distances London

Isochronic Map Travel Distances London

This map is an isochronic representation, with isochrones depicting lines connecting destinations reachable within the same travel time. It conveys a narrative about the evolving nature of travel. Within the central dark-pink area, you can reach any location within five days, spanning from the Azores in the west to the Russian city of Perm in the east.

No surprises there; you’re simply not covering substantial distances. Beyond that point, the scenario becomes more intriguing. Within a five to ten-day timeframe, you can reach destinations as distant as Winnipeg or the captivating Lake Baikal in Siberia. To reach Tashkent, which is closer than both Winnipeg and Lake Baikal, or Honolulu, located much farther away.

It would take up to 20 days. In certain regions, a particular color swathes across a landmass, like the pink hue spreading across the eastern United States or the orange covering India. In contrast, in other areas, you encounter a blue barrier not too far inland, such as in Africa and South America.

The underlying factor explaining these differences is the presence and extent of railway networks.

A Trip to China Map Travel Distances London

During the early 1840s, Asa Whitney, an American dry-goods merchant residing near New York, embarked on a business trip to China. The journey took 153 days, and he deemed it a significant time investment. Upon his return, he initiated efforts to advocate for the construction of a transcontinental railway that would link Lake Michigan with Oregon. This endeavor was driven by the prospect of facilitating trade with China, which had established a trade agreement with Oregon.

Railways

He believed that the construction of the railroad would reduce the travel time to China to approximately 30 days. Thereby expanding access to the Chinese market. The British significantly invested in India’s railway system, expanding it from 838 to 15,842 miles between 1860 and 1880. Comparing it to Francis Galton’s 1870s map reveals a noticeable difference.

Bombay enjoys swift accessibility by sea, but the same cannot be said for the rest of India. In a similar vein, you won’t find a stretch of pink extending across the Russian Empire on Galton’s map. Why? Because the Trans-Siberian Railway had not yet been established. As geographer L.W. Lyde emphasizes in his introduction to Bartholomew’s atlas, “isochronic distances…shift with the addition of each new mile of railway brought into operation.”

What was the primary requirement for a young entrepreneur? A train ticket. Map Travel Distances London

Travel, Passports, and Borders

 

 

Tom Topol | Passport History Expert & Author.
Featured in media incl. CNN, BBC, Newsweek. Awarded by the U.S. Department of State.
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