True Sizes of Nations (List)
Total 0 nations
| No. | Flag | Country Name | ISO Code | Area/km²(mi²) |
|---|
Data source: Open source datasets
Flattening Earth: Why Your Map is Lying
Converting our spherical Earth into a flat map is like trying to lay an orange peel flat on a table—it always distorts reality. Cartographers use "projections" to tackle this challenge, and the Mercator projection (the one you see in classrooms) is the world's most famous 2D illusion.
The Map's Secret: Distortion
But every map has a dirty secret: distortion. The Mercator projection is criticized for dramatically exaggerating sizes near the poles while shrinking equatorial regions. Classic example? Greenland vs Africa.
On Mercator projection:
✅ Greenland appears roughly the same size as Africa
In reality:
🌍 Greenland = 0.8 million sq miles
🦁 Africa = 11.6 million sq miles
→ Africa is 14.5x larger than Greenland!
The farther from the equator, the more bloated landmasses appear. Sorry, Greenland—you're not that massive.
How to Use This Tool
- Drag countries to compare their true sizes
- Use the compass to rotate countries for better comparison angles
- Dragging the map to Antarctica's edge will show this about section
- Interface elements automatically hide during map operations to maintain focus
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