Mercator Projection Map Distortion: The Real Size of 30 Countries vs USA

Your world map is lying to you. It's mathematically impossible to represent the surface of a sphere as a plane without some form of distortion. Since 1569, the algorithm developed by Gerardus Mercator has dominated our classrooms, but it sacrifices size for the sake of navigation.

Why Mercator Projection Map Distortion Matters

An Imgurian and map enthusiast known as Mkyner has sparked a viral conversation by compiling a series of maps overlapping 30 countries on top of the United States. The project reveals how the Mercator projection inflates landmasses near the poles. For instance, while Greenland appears as large as Africa on standard maps, it's actually 14 times smaller.

Despite these flaws, Google Maps and other navigation services still use this projection. The reason is simple: it preserves shapes and angles. A 90-degree turn on the map translates to a 90-degree turn on the street. However, for those seeking true geographic proportions, the Gall–Peters projection offers a more accurate area-based perspective.