New Map, Who Dis?

The U.N. has unrolled a new world map.

The General Assembly voted 164-1 Friday to endorse the Equal Earth projection, a map that “more accurately reflects the true size of continents” than the standard Mercator map.

The used-since-1569 Mercator accommodates the Earth’s curvature (great for navigation), but makes continents near the equator (like Africa) look smaller by stretching those near the poles (like Europe). Equal Earth sacrifices the navigation lines, but keeps continental proportions equal. (See how much countries shrank.)

Uncle Sam cast the lone nay vote, saying the contemporary cartograph is part of a “radical ideological project”. The U.N. said Equal Earth doesn’t replace Mercator, but its use is encouraged “when relative size matters.”

Verse to consider when seeking out the right tool to chart life’s course… “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105 (CSB) (read full passage)