What different world maps get right - and what they get wrong

The widely used Mercator projection was devised in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator. Its primary purpose was to aid European sailors in navigating the oceans, according to cartography Professor James Cheshire of University London College. "He wanted a consecutive enactment to beryllium drawn connected a representation to look similar a consecutive enactment successful world if you followed a compass bearing," helium told the BBC. "That was what it was intended to do, and that's what it does brilliantly well." To preserve those angles on a flat surface, Mercator stretched the grid lines wider as they moved away from the equator toward the poles. This approach accommodates the Earth’s curvature by making nations near the equator appear much smaller than they are, while those nearer the poles look stretched. The distortion stems from the impossibility of perfectly representing a sphere on a two‑dimensional sheet. More than 450 years later, Mercator’s invention remains the foundation for many of the maps seen in classrooms, on television and online, including Google Maps. Critics argue that the projection creates a psychological effect, causing viewers to perceive some regions as smaller than they truly are and others as larger, since larger shapes are often instinctively judged as more important. For Kenyan geographer Kioko Muendo, this has implicitly downplayed Africa’s immense resources, colonisation and concern opportunities. "Maps are much than conscionable guides for travellers - they signifier however regions are perceived politically and economically," helium told the BBC.