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UN backs Equal Earth map over Mercator
BBC News··6 Sept
The UN General Assembly adopted a "Correct the Map" resolution urging a shift from the Mercator projection. Mercator shows Africa about the size of Greenland though Africa is about 14 times larger, the BBC reported. The UN endorsed the Equal Earth projection as a truer size reference. Mercator dates to 1569 and remains common in classrooms and online maps.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Classroom and media maps may gradually replace Mercator under the UN call.
- Readers comparing Africa and Greenland on Mercator charts are seeing a known size distortion.
- Uses that need compass bearings still rely on Mercator-style angle accuracy.
What's Happening
- The resolution targets the shrink of equatorial landmasses on Mercator charts.
- Equal Earth aims to keep land areas closer to true relative size on a flat map.
- UCL professor James Cheshire told the BBC Mercator excelled for compass navigation.
Why Flat Maps Distort
- Representing a sphere on a rectangle forces trade-offs among area, shape, and direction.
- Mercator widens grid lines toward the poles, stretching high-latitude countries.
- Critics say size distortion can skew how important regions appear to viewers.
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