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The World Map at Lake Klejtrup: A Danish farmer spent the last 25 years of his life building his own miniature version of the world

The World Map at Lake Klejtrup is a miniature 5,000-square-meter world map, built of soil, stones, and grass. It is located near the village of Klejtrup, Viborg Municipality, Denmark. Søren Poulsen, the creator of the World Map was born in Denmark in 1888. Having spent part of his life in America, he returned to the village where he was born, by the lake in Klejtrup.

Africa und Europe. By Frank VincentzCC BY-SA 3.0
Africa und Europe. By Frank VincentzCC BY-SA 3.0

 

Poulsen’s inspiration for the map came in 1943 while working on the drainage for meadows surrounding the lake. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0
Poulsen’s inspiration for the map came in 1943 while working on the drainage for meadows surrounding the lake. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0

 

Italy. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0
Italy. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0

In 1943, he was working on the drainage of the surrounding meadows. He found a stone shaped like Jutland, which inspired him to create a small world of his own. During the winter months, with the use of primitive tools, big stones were placed carefully on the ice – and when spring arrived they could easily be tilted into place, and slowly the World Map took shape.

Uganda. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0
Finding a stone shaped like Jutland, Poulsen decided to complete his own map of the world using more materials from the nearby area./Uganda. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0

 

North and South America. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0
North and South America. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0

 

Australia. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0
Australia. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0

The World Map was created between 1944 and 1969, and measures 45 by 90 meters (49 by 98 yards). One 111-kilometre (69 mi) degree of latitude corresponds to 27 centimeters (11 inches) on the map. Owing to the difficulties of spreading out our planet’s spherical shape, the Northern Hemisphere is marked in two places, thus ensuring a better impression of the correct distances between the countries. Red poles mark the equator, and each country is represented by a small flag planted proudly in the ground.

Søren Poulsen spent the last 25 years of his life completing the walkable world. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0
Søren Poulsen spent the last 25 years of his life completing the walkable world. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0

 

UK & Ireland. Wikipedia Public Domain
UK & Ireland. Wikipedia/Public Domain

 

The Great Lakes. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0
The Great Lakes. By Frank Vincentz CC BY-SA 3.0

 

Danmark. Wikipedia Public Domain
Danmark. Wikipedia/Public Domain

The outline of the map has remained unchanged since 1969, the year in which Poulsen died at the age of 81 and just a few months after completing the map. Today, the “World Map at Lake Klejtrup” is a popular attraction in the Viborg area.

David Goran

David Goran is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News