When we consult world maps, whether in physical form or via our digital devices, we aren’t truly observing the accurate size and shape of Earth’s countries and continents. Instead, what we perceive is an adapted representation that distorts the reality of our planet’s geography. While there may be a minority who argue for a flat Earth, the consensus among the majority is that our planet has a spherical or ball-like shape. Representing this three-dimensional reality on a two-dimensional surface requires a transformation, a process associated with altering designs to suit the adaptation.
The primary culprit behind this transformation is the Mercator Projection. Conceived by Gerardus Mercator, a 16th-century cartographer, this projection was developed to aid maritime navigation. However, it comes with a significant drawback – it distorts areas farther from the equator. The degree of distortion increases as one moves away from the equatorial region, significantly altering our perception of countries and continents.
Meridians, the imaginary lines running from pole to pole, play a crucial role in this process. When converting the globe’s image into a two-dimensional plane, meridians must adjust, causing distortions in the neighboring land masses. One glaring example of this distortion is Greenland, which appears similar in size to Africa on Mercator maps but is, in reality, 14 times smaller. Russia is another case in point, where the country’s size is greatly exaggerated in two-dimensional representations.
Despite its shortcomings, the Mercator Projection remains in use today due to its historical significance, cultural influence, and utility in navigation. This projection has been employed since the 16th century to create world maps and nautical charts, allowing for the depiction of maritime routes as straight, uninterrupted lines. Moreover, its enduring impact on history has cemented a mental image that would be challenging to alter.
If we desire to comprehend the true sizes of countries and continents on our planet, several websites provide informative explanations, although they can sometimes be complex to grasp. Fortunately, a simpler approach involves visualizing the real sizes of these geographic entities using dedicated websites. One such platform offers a side-by-side comparison of the familiar world map with its distortions and the true sizes of countries and continents. Additionally, it provides the option to purchase both versions – the conventional map and the authentic representation.
Through this tool, users can also discern the percentage by which countries are misrepresented on conventional maps. Spain, for instance, is 23.7% smaller in reality than its representation on typical maps. Russia and Canada are both more than half as large as indicated by the Mercator projection, while China is only 20.2% smaller, and the United States is downsized by 23%.