Whether you’re a mapping expert or an everyday person, I think you’ll agree not every map needs to be data-heavy. Sometimes, a simple, visual map tells the best story! That’s exactly what LoFi Maps are all about, and they recently landed on Soar.
At Soar, we often come across maps that are more visual or simplistic in nature. These are what we call LoFi Maps - short for low-fidelity. Put simply, LoFi Maps are maps that don’t include the data that places them over the base map. Instead, they're viewable as a standard image which you can zoom into, pan around, and explore, just without the base map.
LoFi Maps make data accessible. You don’t need to be an expert, you just need to be curious. They’re great for casual browsing, sharing with friends, or even sparking ideas for your next project. You’ll find LoFi maps on everything from food, history, language, wildlife, and even human biology. And for creators, it's the easiest way to upload your maps onto Soar! Any simple PNG or JPEG map will work and automatically be listed as a LoFi map in the system.
Data is fascinating, and people around the world have used it to uncover some truly fun insights. Best of all, every map is fully sourced and credited to its original creator. Each one includes a “Source” button so you can view the original file in all its glory, because good maps deserve good attribution. Here are just a few of the weird and wonderful LoFi maps on Soar that gave us a personal kick, and we hope they do the same for you, just click to visit them.
Finding LoFi maps on Soar is easy! Just head to the Discovery tab, then filter by “LoFi Maps”. Or better yet, just keep your eye out for the “LoFi” emblem in the top right corner of any map. You’ll already find more than 2,000+ LoFi maps waiting to be explored, with new ones being added every day!
Got any great LoFi maps of your own? Whether you created them or just discovered a gem that deserves to be seen by others, we want to see them! Any time you upload a PNG or JPEG to Soar, it’s automatically tagged as a LoFi map. Just remember to include the source link (and if you’re the creator, feel free to link to your own channels as the source too!).
We love when people uncover amazing maps and give them the spotlight they deserve on Soar. Give it a try and help build the worlds new atlas together with us.
We believe maps should be fun, engaging, and easy to understand. LoFi Maps are our way of making maps more informative, accessible, and social. Whether you’re a teacher, a student, a trivia nerd, or just someone who loves cool facts, you’re sure to find something to love.
Disclaimer: This blog (and its screenshots) reflect Soar version 6.3. The interface and functions may differ in newer versions.
