A hiker and outdoorsman, Mr. Thomas as a child yearned for a world where nature ruled supreme. His map represents the “idealistic planet that I wanted,” Mr. Thomas, 34, said.

Australia might not be as far away as it used to be because the entire continent has moved 1.5 meters (4.9 feet)since 1994, according to Reuters. How did this happen? Tectonic shifts are the reason.