The Biggest Mapping Mistake of 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘

Hey thanks for watching! A couple things: I have a patreon where I share map backgrounds from videos as well as the actual scripts, you can find that here: www.patreon.com/johnnyharris I had custom presets & luts that I use to color my videos and photos. I developed them over a year with a professional colorist. In incase that’s interesting to you, here they are: store.dftba.com/collections/johnny-harris/products… Lastly, let me know if there is a video you’d like me to make, I’m always on the lookout for ideas and want to know what you’d like to see: www.johnnyharris.ch/submit-ideas

When did California stop being an island? It took more exploration, but by 1747 King Ferdinand VI of Spain was convinced. He issued a decree stating that California was -- once and for all -- not an island. It took another century for cartographers to completely abandon the notion.

After some of Johnny‘s last videos received criticism for oversimplifying historical events, I really like how this video responds to that by providing sources and including disclaimers! I think that makes those videos even better, good work!

The fact that he can tell such interesting stories through the lens of cartography is amazing to me.

The genius of this video is that is that it realizes that California is not a geographical feature but an existential fantasy. A dream. Always has been and always will be.

That sponsorship section though. The guy looked so confused then just kinda accepted it. 🤣🤣

I studied Californian history in college. I had one excellent class that was centered on the idea that California is, in fact, an island, in spite of being quite firmly attached to North America. Politically, historically, culturally, ecologically, geologically, it is separated from the rest of the continent. It was home to far and away the most cultural and linguistic diversity in pre-contact North America. It’s home to a dizzying array of endemic and unique species. It’s charted a separate political course since joining the Union. And it’s hard to get to. California is an island, even though it’s also not.

Good moment to remind you all that the original California is actually Baja California. American California was originally called Higher California for being the territory north of California, but since it became the popular one, the old California changed its name to Southern California. The California that all those legends and myths refer to and the one that was mistaken for an island for centuries, is actually Baja California.

17:13 There is a strait and northern passage above North America that can be navigated to get to Spain, it is called the Bering Strait and the Arctic Ocean. Though it might be a bit unuseable during most times of the year.

Johnny Harris: used to be 19 year old Mormon missionary, now just wakes up random guys on the train to tell them about the video's sponsor 🤣🤣🤣

So, if you're a map guy, I know that you know that cartographers were notorious for cheating by copying other cartographer's maps. It only took one guy to accidently get it wrong,(or lie). Who can afford to go check? They eventually started placing islands that didn't exist so they could see who was copying their legit work. #sandyislanddoesntexist

The map is not entirely a mistake since the today's California entire Central Valley was once one of the largest lakes on the continent. If explorers saw this lake (which was brackish in some parts) they could easily have thought that California was an island. Though this large lake is almost completely gone today, it's remnants & deposits are why California is the most agriculturally prolific land in the world today.

First, I love the map guys at LOC! Second, I saw a similar map last week and have a note to figure it out…then this vid popped up! Yay!

This guy just talked about geography for 24 minutes and I was entertained the entire time

Love to see that he included a full google doc of the sources 'cause now I kinda wanna read some of the old books and letters that show how california was portrayed in the past.

The amount of research and effort you and your team put into a video is nothing but respectable. You've gained a new subscriber sir!

Johnny, your chosen topics are a smash hit even before the quality of your videos and content. Always. Thanks for continuously satisfying my constant hunger to learn new stuff. :) I'm glad we have your YT channel out there. Keep going my friend, power to you.

that man looked so confused during the ad break lol. if he was faking it he played his part well.

Living in DC, even as someone who watches Johnny, if anyone woke me up on the metro like that, sitting next to me on an empty train, I think that face that guy made is the best case response I could possibly be expected to do

Awesome content, Johny! Storytelling skills super impressive, great editing and well delivered. Got a new sub. 👏