Whats the Difference?

Today I will be discussing the differences between the Gall-Peters Projection map and the Mercator Projection map.
1. Gall-Peters Projection map
   

-Continent size is more accurate

-This map was introduced to a press conference in 1973 and thats when people began to pay more attention to it, this map is also more widely used now

-Lines of latitude and longitude are straight, but their scale gives closer dimensions to what rounder dimensions would be (like the actual Earth shape)

-Europe, excluding Russia, is a lot smaller than South America

- Alaska can fit inside the U.S. about three times

-This map was introduced to a press conference in 1973 and thats when people began to pay more attention to it

-Greenland can fit inside Africa about 14 times

-Antartica is more accurately sized

2. Mercator Projection map
 

-Continents are placed so that you can see each one clearly

-Was used in books and on walls because it was developed first and was flat as well as rectangular

-Map lines are straighter, therefore the compass is very accurate for sailors. Also, the continents are placed on a different scale of latitude and longitude

-South America nearly doubles Europes land mass, but on this map, Europe nearly swallows South America

-Alaska is nearly the same size as the U.S.

-People believe the Mercator map to be highly misleading

-Africa appears to be very tiny

-Antarctica appears to be bigger than the rest of the continents, but its actually thought to be the second smallest continent

As you can tell, the two maps look very different even though they are both world maps. The Gall-Peters Projection clearly appears to be longer, while the Mercator appears to be shorter. These are just some of the differences between these two maps but they are still very noticeable. Whichever flat map you use, there will always be inaccuracies. But if I had to suggest one, I would go with the Gall-Peters Projection.



-Karlee