Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

What's wrong with Google Maps?

 

Alison King
Monday 16 July 2012 00:00 BST
Comments
Guinness World Record-breaking Atlas 'The Earth Platinum'
Guinness World Record-breaking Atlas 'The Earth Platinum' (The British Library)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

The British Library has acquired a copy of the Guinness World Record-breaking Atlas "The Earth Platinum". Weighing in at a whopping 200kg, it takes six people to carry it and measures 1.8m x 2.7m.

Printed by Millennium House, it is one of 31 copies and is made up of thousands of satellite images that together form one seamless photograph on each page.The Library already houses the enormous Klencke Atlas, which was presented to King Charles II in 1660.

But at a mere 1.75m tall and 1.9 wide (when open) it's positively piddly compared to the "Platinum". For both, though, it might be easier to look on Google Maps or get on a plane than to try opening them.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in