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. ...

@#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.

;)