Thursday, September 18, 2025

The true size of Africa

For centuries, the maps used to understand the world have distorted Africa's size compared to most northerly nations.

Comments

More from the article ...

... Africa is about three times larger than Canada and more than one and a half the size of Russia, yet the Mercator projection has long made students think those countries are comparable in size -- or even larger -- than Africa. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-18 06:15 PM

Hi Lamplighter: A Japanese architect figured out how to make the world map proportional: m.media-amazon.com

And this map removes the subtle superiority of the northern countries over the southern hemisphere: preview.redd.it

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-18 06:46 PM

#2

Way cool (dated, I know) maps!

#3 | Posted by Corky at 2025-09-18 06:58 PM

@#2 ... And this map removes the subtle superiority of the northern countries over the southern hemisphere ...

To that point, a couple decades ago I was working with an Engineer from Brasil. A friendship developed, and is still present.

At one point back then, we went to a Brazilian restaurant in Rotterdam (The Netherlands). We feasted, we drank Brazilian drinks (hindsight: caution should be observed!). But most important, we each found a friend that evening. A friendship that still lives.

At one point I asked him if the world maps in Brazil show the Southern Hemisphere at the top of the map.

He told me, no. The maps he grew up with were those of the Northern Hemisphere on top.


My guess, at this point, is that there may be some Brazilian Nationalists who might object to that teaching.

;)




#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-18 07:28 PM

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