Organizers of the Great North Run have issued an apology for featuring a map of Sunderland instead of Newcastle on this year’s finishing medal. Unfortunately, this is just one in a long list of mapping errors.

Other notable mistakes include the Phantom supermarket, hazardous climbing routes, and geopolitical missteps.

Phantom Aldi

Earlier this year, the Welsh village of Siphiliog in Denbyshire faced unexpected traffic disruptions after Aldi appeared on the map.

A nearby farm, home to around 500 residents, was mistakenly labeled as a supermarket on Google Maps, leading to a surge of shoppers and milk tankers overwhelming the area.

In response, Google stated it operated “around the clock” to monitor suspicious activities and updated the listing.

Geopolitical Failure

In December, FIFA expressed regret over the omission of Crimea from Ukraine in its mapping.

While the map outlined countries unable to compete due to political tensions, it failed to acknowledge Russian-occupied regions recognized internationally as part of Ukraine since 2014.

“We fully appreciate the sensitivity surrounding this issue and though unintentional, we sincerely regret any distress it may have caused,” the organization stated in a letter to Igor Grishenko, the UAF’s general secretary.

Bennevis’ Dangerous Route

In 2021, Google Maps revised the directions for Bennevis, the UK’s tallest mountain, after warnings about potentially “fatal” paths.

The Scottish climbing charity, John Muir Trust, cautioned that the map’s directions for the nearest parking area to the summit were dangerously misleading, especially for novice climbers, leading them onto treacherous routes without alternative paths.

Google responded by clarifying that the issue pertained to driving routes, not walking directions, and updated the map to direct drivers to visitor centers instead.

Marathon Mishaps

At last year’s San Francisco Half Marathon, the course was mistakenly found to be short by 0.5 miles, affecting the times of thousands of runners.

Organizers claimed the route was measured accurately, but the certification map was incorrect, resulting in various discrepancies.

This was not the first instance of a mismeasured race; between 2013 and 2015, the Greater Manchester Marathon was mapped incorrectly, marking it 380 meters short. Consequently, the times of approximately 24,000 runners were deemed invalid by British athletics.

Similar issues have also arisen in past events, including the Brighton Half Marathon and the Great Scotland Run.

Taking the Wrong Steps

Google corrected a mapping error in Edinburgh after drivers were wrongly guided down a flight of steps. This route was previously accessible by vehicles, but changes in the roads had led to the installation of stairs, resulting in at least two cars getting stuck at the bottom of Calton Hill. In January, Google announced that the mapping issue had been fixed.