Our world maps are WRONG: Countries near the poles are distorted because it is impossible to accurately depict a sphere on a 2D surface
- ‘Mercator Projection’ – the map we are most familiar with – is a representation of the spherical globe
- It gives the right shapes of land masses, but distorts sizes in favour of the wealthy lands to the north
- For example, the UK appears to be fairly large on the 2D map, but it is actually smaller than Japan, Madagascar and the Philippines
We’re all familiar with the standard world maps that adorn most classroom walls.
This view of our planet in two dimensions, however, is littered with inaccuracies.
A new video reveals how the concept, known as the ‘Mercator projection’, which stretches a globe-shape onto a flat surface, has distorted the size and shape of entire countries.
Scroll down for video and interactive map
Because the Earth is a sphere, it is impossible to accurately depict its surface on a two dimensional surface – such as a poster, or a book. Several countries in Europe that seem fairly large are really smaller than they appear, and would not fill the area of the US
Because the Earth is a sphere, it is impossible to accurately depict its surface on a two dimensional surface – such as a poster, or a book.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3745016/Our-world-maps-WRONG-Countries-nearer-poles-distorted-appear-bigger-are.html#ixzz4Hk9hjaCp
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