Once in a while, I like to indulge in what's commonly known as island hopping. Just teleporting from one random point on the map, to another, exploring what I find as I go. When scouring across the map, I started to notice and think about the places I could see that had actually created their particular sim in order that it would have a particular look, when viewed from the map view. With this in mind, I then set myself a quest to find the best examples of these across the Grid, so I could share them with you here:

Pawaii is the HQ of D&D Dogs, who create canine avatars and companions. As such, they have shaped their home island in the shape of a giant doggy pawprint.











This cute froggy shaped island is umi, and is basically a luxury beach club for you to lounge around on. However, be warned that when I went there, the place was empty and most of the items there were deeded to "o0 Club Nude 0o" so there is a risk of being confronted by a gang of nudists.









Mute is the home of RL and SL musical performer Richard Hawley, and as such he has chosen to make the main part of the land on the sim in the form of a giant version of his prized Eddie Cochran Anniversary Edition Gretsch Guitar.










Sanctum Eternum is obviously the love nest of a private couple, who deem to keep this heart, as well as the passionate goings on that may happen there, private. Since the sim is accessible by invite only, appreciate this one from the map view. Or, if you wish to make your own sim this romantic, the Raw file for this heart can be found here.








The beautiful dolphin from which Dolphin Reef gets it's name, is actually up for rent at the moment. So, if you want the prestige of setting up home on the body of a giant aquatic creature, and have 31,000$L or $120 a month burning a hole in your pocket, head on over, and make the owner an offer.









When DAZ (or Digital Art Zone) were looking to build their headquarters, Polygon Point, they look to have gone to Raw file creators Sim Bliss, for this fantastic snowflake design. The poses or animations that they make are mostly to be found on the sim to the west, so one can only assume that the spectacle and winter scenery here is to attract passing traffic.









There are many beautiful sights in the huge Winterfell estate of sims, but I will admit to being particularly fond of the adorable Winterfell Libris, an enormous crescent moon reef, surrounded by star shaped islands, and a wonderful fairytale feel throughout.










Of course, no talk of stunningly shaped island sims would be complete without mentioning the astoundingly ambitious and amazingly well put together Rouge, the burlesque style club and gallery created in the shape of it's owner, CodeBastard Redgrave.










Lamonti is the Headquarters of Lamont International, which owns Furniture Island, which lies directly to the north of it. When glancing across this sim, I almost skimmed straight past it, until I spied the skillfully created feminine silhouette in it's north east corner.









Some map visible land constructs are not islands, or even above the water. IYC Addiction is a Furry dedicated club and mall, and to try to catch the eye, they have dug underwater trenches, proudly displaying their name, and even a massive pawprint, and doodled kitty face.









Finally, if all this is feeling a little elitist, and you're thinking, "Yes, these rich residents who can afford their own sims can create own map visible landmasses, but we mere mortals have no such ability", then let me humbly present to you the mainland sim Corinaldo, where I own a couple of empty openwater 512 parcels. See if you can spot the initials of both my partner, Allanah Tomsen, and my self.







If all this has whetted your appetite, then remember that the world map is only a mouseclick away, and once you start scanning, you never quite know what you might find.