How Maps Distort the World

Greenland looks as big as Africa on most maps but Africa is actually 14 times larger.

The problem isn’t geography. It’s projection. In 1569, a Flemish cartographer

named Gerardus Mercator created a world map. The Mercator projection was designed for

navigation. It preserves direction, not size. That made it perfect for sailors.

But it also stretched landmasses near the poles. Europe and North America appear much

larger than they really are. Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia

appear smaller. In reality, Africa could fit the U.S., China,

India, and most of Europe combined. Maps also reflect politics.