[Scarlett.]

It is hard to represent our spherical world on flat piece of paper. Cartographers use something called a "projection" to morph the globe into 2D map. The most popular of these is the Mercator projection.

Every map projection introduces distortion, and each has its own set of problems. One of the most common criticisms of the Mercator map is that it exaggerates the size of countries nearer the poles (US, Russia, Europe), while downplaying the size of those near the equator (the African Continent). On the Mercator projection Greenland appears to be roughly the same size as Africa. In reality, Greenland is 0.8 million sq. miles and Africa is 11.6 million sq. miles, nearly 14 and a half times larger.

This app was created by James Talmage and Damon Maneice. It was inspired by an episode of The West Wing and an infographic by Kai Krause entitled "The True Size of Africa". We hope teachers will use it to show their students just how big the world actually is.

Check out true size of different countries here!

[reece(:]

Greenland and Antarctica shook me most

[Scarlett.]

Russia is pretty surprising too

[Niamh.]

Sorry but I cant get passed Ireland being included in the United Kingdom

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Sorry but I cant get passed Ireland being included in the United Kingdom

It isn’t? I just typed in Ireland and it did it?

[Smithy]

Omf do Guernsey y’all

[Cal.]

Not to be thick but idgi

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Cal.

Not to be thick but idgi

The size that countries appear on maps are distorted closer to the poles, making them bigger
http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-me...17-6?r=US&IR=T

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Cal.

Not to be thick but idgi

Shocker

[RileyH]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Shocker

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Smithy

It isn’t? I just typed in Ireland and it did it?

on the map when you look at it

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Omf do Guernsey y’all

Oh I watched a film set in Guernsey at the weekend, I really want to go there now

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Sorry but I cant get passed Ireland being included in the United Kingdom

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

It's so not happening

[Calderyon]

Pretty mind blowing tbh.

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

It's so not happening

[Gusto Brunt]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Sorry but I cant get passed Ireland being included in the United Kingdom

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Oh I watched a film set in Guernsey at the weekend, I really want to go there now

The Guernsey potato peel one?

It wasn’t even filmed here, they did it in the Isle of Man

Guernsey is still nicer tho

[Crimson Dynamo]

I was taught this in 5th year Geography

[Smithy]

LT acting like in his 5th year geography people didn’t still think the Earth was flat pfffft

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Smithy

LT acting like in his 5th year geography people didn’t still think the Earth was flat pfffft

It was the best science we had at that time