Claim:
A map created by scientists authentically shows what the U.S. will look like “if we don’t reverse climate change.”
Rating:
The caption accompanying a map shared to X on July 7, 2024, supposedly represented a dire warning from scientists about climate change: “Scientists say this map represents the US in 30 years if we don’t reverse climate change,” the text said.
The map shows a body of water stretching from California to North Carolina, overlaid on a map of the continental U.S. showing much of the nation underwater.
Snopes previously fact-checked this meme in 2021.
We determined that the map originated as a thought experiment created by an architect after he visited the Mediterranean. Because the map was really not created by scientists, nor for the purpose of warning the public about the effects of unmitigated climate change, we’ve rated this claim “False.”
A reverse image search revealed a post on Pinterest that also featured the map, in this case crediting it to Bret Drager and titled, “The Mediterranean Sea of America.”
Snopes conducted a Google keyword search and found that it was first posted on Feb. 4, 2014, to a blog on the architectural website Drager Architecture. A description that accompanied the map read, in part:
I had the pleasure of taking a cruise around the Mediterranean a few years ago. My wife and I had such a great time exploring the historical places and artifacts and the life of strange cities. I thought, wouldn’t it be great if the Mediterranean wasn’t so far away?
Well, I was examining maps and globes and realized that the Mediterranean Sea is at the same Latitude as the United States. If only it were possible to rotate the Mediterranean Sea around to our side of the planet? Would it fit? What effect would this have? What about the states… new coastlines in the middle of the country… new relationships… states torn in pieces?
A couple of screen captures, lots of graphic manipulation and now we know. The Mediterranean Sea fits within the confines of the United States of America. In a way, it is pretty amazing how big the Mediterranean Sea is. We always think if the United States as a vast country, more than 3000 miles from east coast to west coast. It used to be quite a task to traverse that distance. Amazingly, ancient mariners of the Mediterranean traversed similar vast areas of water for their commerce, and conquests.
So, what have we done? This is a new vision of the United States of America. A few states have been unaffected by this mash-up. Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Main and Florida. Yes, I am ignoring Alaska and Hawaii since they are remote, sorry.
Zooming in for a closer look, Snopes also determined that a text laid over the body of water clearly stated, “Mediterranean Sea of America.”
(X Screengrab/@SirajAHashmi)
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the map shared on X and a screenshot of the Mediterranean Sea taken from Google Earth. Most noticeable is the “boot” of Italy central in both images.
(Screengrab X/@SirajAHashmi and Google Earth)
Besides Snopes, other fact-checking organizations that have debunked the meme include USA Today, FactCheck.org, and AP News.
Sources:
Bret Drager The Mediterranean Sea of America – Google Search. https://www.google.com/search?q=Bret+Drager+The+Mediterranean+Sea+of+America&oq=Bret+Drager+The+Mediterranean+Sea+of+America&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTc0OTdqMGoxNagCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8. Accessed 11 July 2024.
Evon, Dan. “Snopes Tips: A Guide To Performing Reverse Image Searches.” Snopes, 22 Mar. 2022, https://www.snopes.com//articles/400681/how-to-perform-reverse-image-searches/.
“Map Shows Mediterranean Sea on U.S., Not Climate Change Impact.” AP News, 9 July 2022, https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-map-climate-change-Mediterranean-sea-129553418056.
Sadeghi, McKenzie. “Fact Check: Posts Falsely Claim to Show US Map in 30 Years If Climate Change Isn’t Addressed.” USA TODAY, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/10/28/fact-check-viral-image-shows-mediterranean-sea-map-us/6181417001/. Accessed 11 July 2024.
“The Mediterranean Sea of America.” DRAGER ARCHITECTURE, 4 Feb. 2014, https://www.dragerarchitecture.com/blog/2014/02/the-mediterranean-sea-of-america.html.
“The Mediterranean Sea of America | Geography Map, World Geography, Map of the Mediterranean.” Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/209980401359856947/. Accessed 11 July 2024.
