The Mercator Projection v The True Size Of Countries

[Wales-Bales]

[Wales-Bales]

TBG in 3 .. 2 ..

[Taunton Blue Genie]

TBG in 3 .. 2 ..

[Wales-Bales]

So, what's your opinion? We've all tried to pass things off as being bigger than they really are, but Greenland in tiny!

[Taunton Blue Genie]

So, what's your opinion? We've all tried to pass things off as being bigger than they really are, but Greenland in tiny!

It's not about passing off. All map projections distort but in different ways as a sphere can't really be represented well in two dimensions. Mercator projection (and versions thereof) are the most popular for navigation (as it is useful in respect of constant bearings) although it may confuse some people in that a straight line drawn between two locations on the globe is not the quickest route. It should also be noted that a singular Mercator map or chart depicting the world as whole.....er....doesn't. Land masses are exaggerated in size towards the poles (points which would be as long as the equator if included!) and the projection usually crops the globe at 30 degrees north and south as a result.
Different map projections are used for different reasons. You did ask!

:tbg:

[Rjk]

So, what's your opinion? We've all tried to pass things off as being bigger than they really are, but Greenland in tiny!

Greenland is still massive, just not as big as it appears with the mercator

https://xkcd.com/977/

[Taunton Blue Genie]

This might help....

109155-004-B9DE1090.jpg

[goats]

So, why is everything in the northern hemisphere bigger than it really is? A load of guff

[IanD]

So, why is everything in the northern hemisphere bigger than it really is? A load of guff

Cos there's more land mass in the northern hemisphere to get exaggerated size-wise. At or near mid lattitudes that is. Antarctica is largely outside the Mercator projection.

[Rjk]

https://twitter.com/starlightgeek/st...476945923?s=19

Here's a good thread on this stuff, hard to disagree with the statement that Brazil is an absolute unit