The True Size of Africa Vs. North America: Interactive Overlays That Expose the Mercator Lie

Take a closer look at The True Size of Africa Vs. North America: Interactive Overlays That Expose the Mercator Lie with expert analysis.

Q1: How many times can the United States fit inside Africa?
A1: The continental landmass of Africa can fit the entire total land area of the United States roughly 3.1 times. If measuring only against the contiguous 48 states, Africa could fit the US roughly 3.75 times.

Q2: Why did the United States vote against the 2026 UN Equal Earth resolution?
A2: American representatives cited historical continuity, maritime navigation conventions, and the operational costs of replacing federal spatial standards and educational curricula. Independent observers noted that the vote also reflected political discomfort with seeing the US visually scaled down relative to equatorial regions.

Q3: Is the Gall-Peters map projection the same as Equal Earth?
A3: No. Both preserve true geographic surface area, but Gall-Peters severely distorts continental shapes, stretching Africa and South America vertically. Equal Earth, created in 2018, mathematically balances accurate land area with natural-looking shapes and curved meridians.

Q4: Why do common wall maps still use the Mercator projection?
A4: Gerardus Mercator’s projection remains widespread because it preserves familiar local continental shapes and fits rectangular prints cleanly. Legacy publishing plates, school textbook inventories, and centuries of visual tradition have kept it alive long after its original nautical purpose became obsolete.