The Mercator Misconception: Why Africa's True Size Matters The recent UN General Assembly vote to adopt a new map that accurately reflects the size of Africa is more than just a cartographic correction – it's a long overdue reckoning with the legacy of colonialism and its ongoing impact on our understanding of the world.
For centuries, maps have been used as tools of imperialism, perpetuating distorted representations of global power dynamics and reinforcing the notion that Western nations are the center of the universe.
The Equal Earth projection, which was approved by 164 countries, offers a more accurate representation of continental landmasses. This correction has far reaching implications beyond geography.