Making these accurate representations is no small task – the designers went through six steps and many different iterations of the graphic.Ĭountries are arranged by descending size and shown without external or dependent territories. We take for granted Google Maps and satellite imaging. Measurements are based on Google Maps 2016 and NASA Earth Observatory maps, with calculations based on the WGS84 reference ellipsoid, or more simply, a specific model of the Earth’s shape in two dimensions. This collection of images above represents the world’s land masses in their correct proportions. “Things are not always what they seem the first appearance deceives many.” – Phaedrus As a result, Canada and Russia appear to take up approximately 25% of the Earth’s surface, when in reality these nations only occupy 5%. The map type increases the sizes of land masses close to the poles (such as in North America, Europe, or North Asia) as a side effect. These types of maps were suited for nautical navigation since every line on the sphere is a constant course, or loxodrome.ĭespite the map’s nautical utility, the Mercator projection has an unwanted downside. In 1569, the legendary cartographer, Gerardus Mercator, created a new map based on a cylindrical projection of sections of the Earth. Maps can deceive your eyes but they are still powerful tools for specific purposes. Distorting Reality: Mercator Misconceptions Today’s infographic comes from the design studio Art.Lebedev and shows the true size of the world’s land masses in order from largest to smallest using data from NASA and Google.Ĭheck out the actual shape and size of each land mass without any distortions. Is Greenland the size of the entire African continent?īut looking at a map based on the Mercator projection, you would think so. The True Size of Land Masses from Largest to Smallest
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