12 stories found
Africa is roughly 14 times larger than Greenland, but the widely used Mercator projection map makes them appear nearly identical in size. This cartographic distortion has shaped public perception of world geography for centuries.
The United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution endorsing a new world map that replaces the traditional Mercator projection. The updated cartographic standard aims to correct geographical distortions and accurately reflect Africa’s true relative size.
Backed by Togo and the 'Correct the Map' campaign, a UN resolution urges a gradual shift away from the traditional Mercator projection to accurately reflect Africa's true size on world maps.
Togo's foreign minister announced that the country will ask United Nations member states to adopt a world map that more accurately reflects the true size of Africa, moving away from the 16th-century Mercator projection.
The UN General Assembly approved a resolution to update geographical maps to accurately reflect Africa's true size, moving away from the historically distorted Mercator projection. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. officials who oppose the measure.
The United Nations has formally endorsed a resolution backing a corrected world map that accurately depicts Africa as nearly 14 times larger than Greenland, challenging decades of distorted geographical representations.
Member states are preparing to vote on implementing a corrected world map that accurately reflects the relative sizes of all countries, moving away from the historically distorted Mercator projection. The change aims to provide a more geographically equitable representation of global landmasses.
A geography quiz highlights how traditional maps, particularly those using the Mercator projection, distort the true sizes of countries. It challenges readers to identify which countries are actually larger than they appear.
An international body has voted to gradually adopt a new map projection that accurately represents Africa's size, though the traditional Mercator projection remains legal for use.
The article examines how the widely used Mercator map projection exaggerates the size of northern regions, potentially influencing political decisions such as discussions over acquiring Greenland.
Sponsored by Togo, a new UN resolution will ask member states to phase out the traditional Mercator projection in favor of maps that accurately reflect Africa's true geographic scale.
Togo plans to advocate for a shift away from Mercator projection world maps in favor of those that more accurately represent Africa's size, announcing intentions to approach the UN on the matter.