Simon Kuestenmacher
@simongerman600.bsky.social
German #geographer and #demographer in #Melbourne. I love and share #maps and #data that explain how the #world works.
The north eastern US states want their piece of the maple syrup market. Reminded me of this awesome podcast episode about the economics of maple syrup: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/1... map credit to @hdk_maps (totally worth a follow).
November 26, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The north eastern US states want their piece of the maple syrup market. Reminded me of this awesome podcast episode about the economics of maple syrup: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/1... map credit to @hdk_maps (totally worth a follow).
Big shoutout to @geodatarankings for showing us this basic geography trivia in map form: what countries are home to 100+ people?
November 26, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Big shoutout to @geodatarankings for showing us this basic geography trivia in map form: what countries are home to 100+ people?
I’m almost impressed by countries voting “against” in a vote against torture. You gotta respect honesty, I guess?
November 26, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I’m almost impressed by countries voting “against” in a vote against torture. You gotta respect honesty, I guess?
For now Europe dominates the global export of pharmaceuticals. Source: buff.ly/6bWCvGj
November 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
For now Europe dominates the global export of pharmaceuticals. Source: buff.ly/6bWCvGj
How good is the soil in your part of Europe? Ukraine has some of the best soil.
November 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
How good is the soil in your part of Europe? Ukraine has some of the best soil.
US aligned economies are still much stronger than Chinese aligned economies. Keep that in mind when philosophizing about geopolitical and economical developments.
November 26, 2025 at 10:55 AM
US aligned economies are still much stronger than Chinese aligned economies. Keep that in mind when philosophizing about geopolitical and economical developments.
This is a very interesting map by @researchremora (follow this account!!!). The measure of biodiversity intactness was new to me. The food producing “fly over” states have very little intact biodiversity. Europe looks relatively intact.
November 25, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This is a very interesting map by @researchremora (follow this account!!!). The measure of biodiversity intactness was new to me. The food producing “fly over” states have very little intact biodiversity. Europe looks relatively intact.
In the US, among conservative women, the old "Career first, then kids" script appears to increasingly be flipped to a "Kids first, then career" script. Each to their own, but it's super interesting to see cultural shifts live in action. Source: buff.ly/9EI9Ol6
November 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
In the US, among conservative women, the old "Career first, then kids" script appears to increasingly be flipped to a "Kids first, then career" script. Each to their own, but it's super interesting to see cultural shifts live in action. Source: buff.ly/9EI9Ol6
As this map shows, Australia’s Highway 1 is the world’s longest national highway. For many Australian circumnavigating the country this way is a lifelong dream. Source: buff.ly/WsTcKUR
November 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
As this map shows, Australia’s Highway 1 is the world’s longest national highway. For many Australian circumnavigating the country this way is a lifelong dream. Source: buff.ly/WsTcKUR
Winters in most of the US are colder than they are in Canada's warmest city (Victoria). That's a bumper sticker slogan that should sell well in Victoria?! Source: buff.ly/WsTcKUR
November 25, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Winters in most of the US are colder than they are in Canada's warmest city (Victoria). That's a bumper sticker slogan that should sell well in Victoria?! Source: buff.ly/WsTcKUR
This map shows the share of homes across the US with at least one air conditioner.
November 24, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This map shows the share of homes across the US with at least one air conditioner.
New payment offers (total package) made to Senior Software Engineers (SWE) at the biggest tech companies in the US are juicy! A lot of money to be made. Source: buff.ly/WsTcKUR
November 24, 2025 at 8:42 PM
New payment offers (total package) made to Senior Software Engineers (SWE) at the biggest tech companies in the US are juicy! A lot of money to be made. Source: buff.ly/WsTcKUR
Turns out I knew all (well, except for one) of the biggest German companies by market cap. As a German this is kinda expected though...
November 24, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Turns out I knew all (well, except for one) of the biggest German companies by market cap. As a German this is kinda expected though...
Same phenomenon, different area, different name.
November 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Same phenomenon, different area, different name.
He ain't named Sideshow Bob everywhere! Tahiti Bob is kind of a wild name...
November 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
He ain't named Sideshow Bob everywhere! Tahiti Bob is kind of a wild name...
The UN predicts that as the Australian population continues to grow, the share of people living in the big cities further increases. The share of people living in regional towns continues to drop. The rural / remote population remains stable. Source: buff.ly/rXn3HJP
November 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
The UN predicts that as the Australian population continues to grow, the share of people living in the big cities further increases. The share of people living in regional towns continues to drop. The rural / remote population remains stable. Source: buff.ly/rXn3HJP
Really cool little map of the Black Sea. Quite a bit of drama in this visual I would say. Source: buff.ly/2ZPPHoo
November 23, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Really cool little map of the Black Sea. Quite a bit of drama in this visual I would say. Source: buff.ly/2ZPPHoo
If you wonder why all these superpowers in the last 100-odd years struggled to conquer Afghanistan you’ll just need to look at the country’s topography. Source:https://buff.ly/2I37UGp
November 23, 2025 at 8:42 PM
If you wonder why all these superpowers in the last 100-odd years struggled to conquer Afghanistan you’ll just need to look at the country’s topography. Source:https://buff.ly/2I37UGp
The Fergana Valley Region. A tricky piece of land to navigate... Uzbekistan owns the valley. Kyrgyzstan owns the mountains surrounding the valley. Tajikistan owns the entrance to the valley. Enclaves/exclaves everywhere. Source: buff.ly/2MGXhwc
November 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
The Fergana Valley Region. A tricky piece of land to navigate... Uzbekistan owns the valley. Kyrgyzstan owns the mountains surrounding the valley. Tajikistan owns the entrance to the valley. Enclaves/exclaves everywhere. Source: buff.ly/2MGXhwc
Russia now increased the amount of extremely valuable soil (agricultural land) that it holds in Ukraine. I assume this will be part of the "this war was a success" narrative that the Kremlin will eventually push. Source: buff.ly/aRLm1rq
November 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Russia now increased the amount of extremely valuable soil (agricultural land) that it holds in Ukraine. I assume this will be part of the "this war was a success" narrative that the Kremlin will eventually push. Source: buff.ly/aRLm1rq
Germans now have (slightly) higher English language proficiency than the Nordic nations. Somehow, the Australians and Dutch are better yet! Source: buff.ly/vpchRZk
November 23, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Germans now have (slightly) higher English language proficiency than the Nordic nations. Somehow, the Australians and Dutch are better yet! Source: buff.ly/vpchRZk
Throughout the last 2000 years, only five cities have the right to claim to have been "Europe's largest city". Source: buff.ly/vpchRZk
November 23, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Throughout the last 2000 years, only five cities have the right to claim to have been "Europe's largest city". Source: buff.ly/vpchRZk
Guinea’s $23bn Simandou iron ore project is now the world’s biggest new mine. Its ultra high-grade ore could cut emissions in steelmaking, reshape the iron ore market in China’s favour, and potentially transform Guinea’s economy.
FT story: buff.ly/bkri1e1
France24 video: buff.ly/XOQoqdQ
FT story: buff.ly/bkri1e1
France24 video: buff.ly/XOQoqdQ
November 22, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Guinea’s $23bn Simandou iron ore project is now the world’s biggest new mine. Its ultra high-grade ore could cut emissions in steelmaking, reshape the iron ore market in China’s favour, and potentially transform Guinea’s economy.
FT story: buff.ly/bkri1e1
France24 video: buff.ly/XOQoqdQ
FT story: buff.ly/bkri1e1
France24 video: buff.ly/XOQoqdQ
Male circumcision is most common in Africa, the Middle East, and for some reason in the Midwest of the US? Source: buff.ly/vpchRZk
November 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Male circumcision is most common in Africa, the Middle East, and for some reason in the Midwest of the US? Source: buff.ly/vpchRZk