scale models of mountains

these terrain models break my brain.

Grosse Windgälle, 3187 m (Switzerland) 1:2,000, 163 x 307 cm, 1938

by eduard imhof (1895-1986)
more pictures here.

edit: i love that the one on the top left is labelled as "climber's view."  that's totally what it's like!  minus the scary black sky.  

to be a cartographer!  oh, who am i kidding, i just admire maps and things.