The Biggest Mapping Mistake of 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘

Is California Actually an Island???

For 200 years map makers drew California as an island. The path to find out why led me on a pretty wild journey.

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Johnny Harris is a filmmaker and journalist. He currently is based in Washington, DC, reporting on interesting trends and stories domestically and around the globe. Johnny's visual style blends motion graphics with cinematic videography to create content that explains complex issues in relatable ways. He holds a BA in international relations from Brigham Young University and an MA in international peace and conflict resolution from American University.

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[johnnyharris]

Hey thanks for watching!

A couple things:

[theo]

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!

[GoatAmv]

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.

[chymaneYT]

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

[berklia]

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.

[realFranklinfurter]

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 🤣🤣🤣

[tomaikenhead]

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.

[smax]

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

[eduardof]

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.

[mitkoivanov]

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.

[vyperz]

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

[chymaneYT]

Love that the sources and disclaimers are added to the video this time around. Great video👍👍

[arjun_dixit]

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.

[itsarnieho]

Love the addition of the notes and sources. This is why I’m a fan of Johnny. He is genuine and listens to his audience

[nunnaurbiznez]

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

[AmogusPhage]

It’s good to see Johnny listening to criticism and providing annotations when he simplifies history.

[miguelrodriguez-dfww]

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

[Thebreakdownshow]

It’s a good day when Johnny comes out with a film. One of the reasons I started making films.

[leoschenk]

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

[ivanz]

We really need more cartography/history videos like this. Honestly could watch this stuff for hours