The True Size of Countries

The Mercator map projection was originally designed for nautical navigation but became a global standard. It explains that the Mercator projection distorts the perceived size of countries – especially those further from the equator – making areas like Canada, Russia, and Greenland appear much larger, while regions like Africa are minimized in visual prominence. This has led many people to form inaccurate impressions of world geography.

This map provides a comparison of real proportions of the Earth's countries and continents, helping to correct geographic misconceptions.