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The True Size of Africa
For centuries, the maps used to understand the world have distorted Africa's size compared to most northerly nations.
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lamplighter
Joined 2013/04/13Visited 2025/09/23
Status: user
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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 reut.rs/4nx5ocj[image or embed] -- Reuters (@reuters.com) Sep 3, 2025 at 8:05 AM
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 reut.rs/4nx5ocj[image or embed]
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... 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 | Reply
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 | Reply | Newsworthy 1
#2
Way cool (dated, I know) maps!
#3 | Posted by Corky at 2025-09-18 06:58 PM | Reply
@#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 | Reply | Funny: 1
The true size of Africa
Stop making me feel insecure!
#5 | Posted by censored at 2025-09-18 09:16 PM | Reply
@#5
                      :)
#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-18 10:21 PM | Reply
Kudos poster!
#7 | Posted by Brennnn at 2025-09-19 01:44 AM | Reply
Old recycled news. Why do stories like this always focus on Africa and not Malaysia or Latin America, or the equatorial region in general? Oh yeah, silly clickbait.
#8 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-09-19 09:30 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1
Fun fact: Equatorial Guinea is the only Hispanic country in Africa.
#9 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-09-19 09:32 AM | Reply
Relevant: Did AFRiCANS ever colonize anything?
#10 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-09-19 11:15 AM | Reply
dUh dIsToRtInG tHe sIzE oF aFrIcA iS rAyCisT
#11 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-09-19 12:57 PM | Reply
Old recycled news. Why do stories like this always focus on Africa and not Malaysia or Latin America, or the equatorial region in general? Oh yeah, silly clickbait. #8 | Posted by sentinel
Preach Brother!
Would you care to join my friend at the micro-penis support group he just started up?
#12 | Posted by censored at 2025-09-19 08:06 PM | Reply
#12, tell your friend that while I'm a supportive ally, my busy schedule and current geographical location prevent me from joining your meetings.
#13 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-09-20 01:28 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1
#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-18 06:46 PM
First time I visited Australia, bought a map that looked like that, and hung it in my office when I got back. People would stare at it and claim that it was just WRONG.
OCU
#14 | Posted by OCUser at 2025-09-20 08:40 PM | Reply
So it turns out that Florida, the penis of the USA, is actually tiny when shown in it's accurate proportions to the rest of the Americas. LOL
#15 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-09-21 12:40 AM | Reply | Funny: 2
I think someone either didn't understand how the Mercator distortions work, or doesn't know that Florida is closer to the equator than most the rest of the USA.
Either way, I've never heard of that comparison between Florida and a body part before.
#16 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-09-21 12:50 PM | Reply
So it turns out that Florida, the penis of the USA, is actually tiny...
#15 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-09-21 12:40 AM
And a flaccid one at that...
#17 | Posted by OCUser at 2025-09-21 03:24 PM | Reply
Wierd, when I was in school there was a globe in every classroom, which made the true proportions of the continents obvious. I guess they took those out of the classroom?
#18 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-09-21 04:53 PM | Reply
Globes are liberal conspiracies.
Everyone knows the earth is flat.
#19 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-21 04:56 PM | Reply
Mercator projection is obviously raciss. Greenland is 4x Madagascar, but give them a pass and blame Europe. Man watching the left implode is prime. Good job Reuters and reut.rs butterfly clickbandit. BUY AN AD
#20 | Posted by sir_vicks at 2025-09-21 06:29 PM | Reply
#16 | Posted by sentinel
Hey Europe! Suck my Florida! Kliban? 1970s?
#21 | Posted by sir_vicks at 2025-09-21 06:34 PM | Reply
found it archive.is
#22 | Posted by sir_vicks at 2025-09-21 06:36 PM | Reply
Daddysfist has always been a size queen.
#23 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-09-21 06:45 PM | Reply
They teach that to kids in Canada in grade 3 or 4. Always Go to the globe for more accurate sizes but it needs to be bulged around equator a slight bit.
#24 | Posted by Scotty at 2025-09-22 12:34 AM | Reply
Maps are messed up. Why is Alaska so cold and Hawaii so warm? They're right next to each other on my map!
#25 | Posted by sir_vicks at 2025-09-22 01:39 AM | Reply
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Comments are closed for this entry.
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