Major rivers and mountains of the world (1864)

This illustration was published by Schönberg and Co. in 1864, in the book Standard Atlas of the World.

This is a comparative map of the world's major rivers and mountains. Illustrations of this kind became very popular during the 19th century, as they allowed readers to directly compare the height of mountains and the length of rivers in relation to mountains or rivers with which they were familiar.

In this particular copy, the maps of the eastern and western hemispheres of the world are divided, corresponding respectively to America and the Old World (Europe, Africa, and Asia). The altitude of the mountains is, in general terms, quite accurate. The length of the rivers, on the other hand, is much shorter than is currently known, as the source of many rivers such as the Nile and the Amazon had not yet been found. This is why the Mississippi-Missouri appears as the longest river in the world.

The illustration also contains many interesting details that allow the reader to understand the world a little better. Volcanoes are distinguished from other mountains as volcanoes. Some high-altitude cities, such as Mexico City, Bogotá and Quito, are illustrated on the map at their respective heights. Finally, next to the mountain, you can also see some hot air balloons representing iconic flights, such as that of Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, which can be seen to the right of Aconcagua.

Sources

• Principal Mountains and Rivers of the World