Maps have been lying to you all your life. Yes, even Google Maps
23 ABC News | KERO・5 minutes read
The Mercator projection distorts landmasses near the poles, leading to misconceptions about the size of regions, prompting criticism and calls for alternative map projections. Despite attempts to rectify distortions with maps like the Gall-Peters projection, the debate over map projections continues, with organizations advocating for more accurate depictions of the world using alternative projections like the Mollweide or Eckert.
Insights
- The Mercator projection, while beneficial for navigation, distorts the sizes of landmasses, leading to misconceptions about their relative sizes. Greenland and Alaska appear larger than they are on this map compared to South America and Mexico.
- Criticism of the Mercator projection's inaccuracies led to the development of alternative map projections like the Gall-Peters projection. The ongoing debate over map projections has resulted in the advocacy for non-rectangular projections like Mollweide or Eckert for more accurate depictions of Earth.
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Recent questions
What is the Mercator projection?
A map projection aiding ship navigation but distorting landmasses.
Why was the Mercator projection criticized?
Criticized for distorting Earth's landmasses, leading to inaccuracies.
What alternative map projections were developed?
Gall-Peters, Mollweide, and Eckert projections aimed at accuracy.
How did Richard Edes Harrison contribute to map projections?
Offered alternative maps for more accurate world representations.
Why is there ongoing debate over map projections?
Various organizations advocate for more accurate depictions of the world.
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Summary
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"Mercator Projection Distorts Earth's Landmasses"
- The Mercator projection, created by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, was designed to aid ship navigation by straightening lines of latitude and longitude, making it easier to navigate. However, this projection distorts landmasses the closer they are to the poles, leading to misconceptions about the relative sizes of regions. Greenland and Alaska appear significantly larger on a Mercator map compared to South America and Mexico, respectively.
- The Mercator projection, despite its navigation benefits, was criticized for its distorted view of Earth's landmasses. In the mid-20th century, during World War II, calls were made to discard the Mercator projection due to its inaccuracies. Richard Edes Harrison's illustrations offered alternative maps that provided more accurate representations of the world, particularly in a time dominated by flight and global strategy considerations.
- Attempts to address the issues with the Mercator projection led to the creation of new map projections like the Gall-Peters projection, aimed at rectifying the distortions of the Mercator. However, the debate over map projections continues, with various organizations advocating for the use of non-rectangular projections like the Mollweide or Eckert for more accurate depictions of the world.
