Interactive map shows precisely which countries are directly across the sea from the UK coastline

As you gaze out to sea, you wonder what lies beyond the endless horizon.

Well, wonder no more, if one fascinating interactive map can tell you exactly what you are looking at – and it may not be what you expect.

Developed by Esri UK, the visualization shows 37 countries you would reach if you traveled in a straight line from nearly 2,000 UK coastal locations.

Looking at a flat world map you might assume it’s Ireland, France and Scandinavia, but due to the curvature of the Earth there’s actually a lot more that can be ‘seen’.

From Norfolk you could gaze at Russia, from South Wales you could gaze longingly at Brazil or glimpse all the way to Antarctica, the map reveals.

If your vacation in Land’s End (pictured) was a little chilly, you could theoretically swim 7,559 miles to the Bahamas

Countries on the far horizon for Brits include Norway, Portugal, the US, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Falkland Islands, Russia, Cuba, Canada and Spain.

The cartographers plotted out points around the UK, assuming there was a person looking out, perpendicular to the coastline, at each point.

Whenever there was a major change in direction in the shoreline, they put in a new one.

From these points, they drew lines outward until they touched land, taking into account the curvature of the Earth.

These are called “geodisc lines,” which indicate the shortest distance between two points on a curved surface.

The word ‘geodesic’ comes from the Greek words ‘geo’ meaning ‘earth’ and ‘desic’ meaning ‘division’.

The map shows that from a vantage point in Stiffkey, Norfolk, you can enjoy uninterrupted views of Russia some 9,000 miles away.

If you sailed in a straight line from the Orkney Islands in Scotland, you could reach the Dominican Republic in just 7,000 kilometres.

With a really good telescope, you should be able to see Brazil from Barmouth, North Wales (pictured), as it is 7,447 miles away

But there’s only one location that directly faces the Faulkland Islands, 7,345 miles away, and that’s St Anne’s Head in South Wales (pictured)

In Pembroke, Wales, if you could look 7,898 miles into the distance, you would see Antarctica.

If your Land’s End vacation was a little chilly, you could theoretically swim 4,559 miles to the Bahamas.

With a really good telescope, you should be able to see Brazil from Barmouth, North Wales, as it is 4,447 miles straight away.

Beachgoers in Bideford, North Devon, can look forward to Puerto Rico, 7,000 miles away.

At Chesil Beach, eagle-eyed viewers in Dorset – with a very high stepladder – could see beyond France and Spain, all the way to Brazil, 4,233 miles in the distance.

But there’s only one location that directly faces the Faulkland Islands, 7,345 miles away, and that’s St Anne’s Head in South Wales.

Where was YOUR house in the time of the dinosaurs? Incredible interactive map shows how Earth’s continents have shifted from 750 million years ago to today

Of course, Britain wasn’t Britain when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, but where exactly were you in the days of T.Rex, Stegosaurus, and Diplodocus?

Well, with an interactive map you can travel back in time to find out.

‘Ancient Earth Globe’ reveals how the continents split and reformed as the oceans moved forward and backward over 750 million years of our planet’s history.

It also features a range of tools that make it easy to discover more about Earth, such as where the first reptiles lived or when the first flower bloomed.

View the map HERE

Earth at the time of the extinction of the dinosaurs: ‘Ancient Earth Globe’ reveals how the continents split and reformed as oceans moved forward and backward over 750 million years of the planet’s history. Here is Britain 66 million years ago