For context’s sake, this is from a 16th century German bible.

Snake Island, Brazil

Off the coast of Brazil sits Ilha de Queimada Grande, or as it’s known in colloquial English, Snake Island. Comprising roughly 110 acres of trees, the island is uninhabited and travel to it is expressly forbidden by the Brazilian navy. Why? Because Queimada Grande is home to hundreds of thousands of golden lanceheads, the snake pictured above.

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Following North America’s discovery in 1492, four European nations laid claim to various parts of the continent: Great Britain, France and Spain competed for modern-day Canada, America, and Mexico, while Russia claimed the Pacific Northwest. Out of this development, 3 new nations were born over the course 5 centuries, which the animated GIF above explores. Interestingly enough, the modern borders of North America were only finalized in 1949, when the Dominion of Newfoundland was transferred as a British colony to control of Canada.