Fun with flags

A compilation of natural landscapes that represent the flags of different countries and regions.

Yes, I could not help the reference to Sheldon Cooper.

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Vexillology and cartography are two clearly distinct subjects, but in some ways they share a large group of followers. Those of you reading this will surely have a great appreciation for cartography and maps, and although we have never discussed it, it is very likely that you also have a certain interest in flags.

Vexillology is the discipline that studies flags in their widest sense. In fact, some authors consider it to be part of semiotics, the science dedicated to systems of signs of human origin, which encompasses such diverse things as languages, codes, and even traffic signs.

Why am I telling you this? Because today, taking advantage of the fact that I am on holiday, the post will be very light and will be entirely dedicated to flags. I am going to dig out a handful of very unusual photographs that I collected years ago: they are all photographs that show a country’s flag, but without the flag itself¹.

Without further ado, here they are.

Estonia: landscape… and flag

Landscape of Estonia, by Valmar Valdmann (source)

Ukraine: landscape… and flag

Landscape of Ukraine (source)

Russia: landscape… and flag

Landscape of Russia (source)

Bulgaria: landscape… and flag

Landscape of Bulgaria (source)

Lithuania: landscape… and flag

Landscape of Lithuania (source)

Scotland: skies… and flag

Skies of Scotland (source)

Uruguay: sky… and flag

Skies of Uruguay (source)

Turkey: sunset… and flag

Skies of Turkey (source)

Canada: maple… and flag

Maple leaves (source)

Ireland: coast… and flag

Coast of Ireland, by Martin Maguire (source)

Cascadia: landscape… and flag

Landscape of Cascadia (source)

Geneseo: flag?

The flag of Geneseo, as it is (source)

For this last one, I think I need to provide a brief explanation. Although it may seem unreal, the flag of Geneseo, a small town in Kansas, United States, is exactly as shown above. It is a colourised version of a black and white photo showing the town sheriff back in 1902². As this is probably difficult to believe, I will leave you with a photo of Geneseo showing the local, state, and national flags³.

The Geneseo flag flying (source)

1. Most are taken in the country they represent, but not all.

2. This is the photo.

3. I neither confirm nor deny that I spent a significant amount of time on Street View, navigating the town and did not find any representation of the flag.