Traditional world maps, particularly the Mercator projection, often distort the relative sizes of countries, making regions near the poles appear much larger than they are in reality. For instance, Greenland appears comparable in size to Africa, despite Africa being approximately 14 times larger.

To visualize the true sizes of countries, consider the following resources:

? Interactive Tools

• The True Size Of: This interactive map allows you to drag and drop countries to compare their actual sizes. It provides a clear representation of how different countries' landmasses compare when distortion is removed.

• Neil Kaye's Animated Map: Created by Neil Kaye, a climate data scientist at the UK's Met Office, this animation demonstrates how countries' sizes change when adjusted from the Mercator projection to a more accurate representation. It highlights the significant size discrepancies, such as the vastness of Africa compared to the exaggerated sizes of Greenland and Canada.

?️ Alternative Map Projections

To better understand true country sizes, consider exploring maps based on different projections:

• Gall-Peters Projection: This projection attempts to represent areas in their true proportions, offering a more accurate depiction of country sizes.

• Equal Earth Projection: Developed by NASA, this projection aims to minimize distortion in area, shape, and distance, providing a more realistic view of the world.

By utilizing these tools and projections, you can gain a more accurate understanding of the relative sizes of countries across the globe.