Extreme Cartography

To help me write about this topic, I thought that I would find a good definition for extreme.

I search the Merriam-Webster dictionary. The Definition that they gave is:

1 a : existing in a very high degree <extreme poverty>
b : going to great or exaggerated lengths : RADICAL extreme diet>
c : exceeding the ordinary, usual, or expected <extreme weather conditions>

2 archaic : LAST

3 : situated at the farthest possible point from a center extreme north>

4 a : most advanced or thoroughgoing extreme political left>
b : MAXIMUM
5 a : of, relating to, or being an outdoor activity or a form of a sport (as skiing) that involves an unusually high degree of physical risk <extreme mountain biking down steep slopes>
b : involved in an extreme sport extreme snowboarder>

OK. So know I know what extreme is it is easier to know what extreme cartography can be.

Using the first definition; existing in a very high degree. We can map things that are in high degrees, extreme poverty and extreme wealth. These are easy to map by just using census data.

This link is to a PDF of an extreme poverty map of Guatemala.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullMaps_Am.nsf/luFullMap/7994B3A68A949085C125728F003FB27B/$File/ciesin_NED_gtm051231.pdf?OpenElement

This is a map of hurricane Katrina.

We can also map things that exceed the ordinary. We can create weather maps.

The third definition; situated at the farthest possible point from a center. We can create maps of the Antarctica and the North Pole; both these areas are farthest away from the center/ equator.

These are maps of Antarctica and the Arctic areas. These are both extreme.

The fourth definition uses the example of the extreme political left. We can create maps of red states and blue states. We can find data and map which where groups such as the Klu Klux Klan are located or other groups that are considered extremist. Extreme religious view or groups can be mapped as well.

This map is of extreme hate groups that are in Arkansas.

The 5^th definition is the one that most interest me. Extreme sports. By using 3D software and GPS units I think that you could be able to produce so pretty cool maps. You could map out your route up a mountain, or the line that you skied down, or the line that you rock climbed up.

This map is a the route up Mt KhanTengri in Kyrghyzstan