Ever looked at a world map and wondered why Greenland looks almost as big as Africa? That's the Mercator projection at work! Created by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, it's a cylindrical map projection famous (or infamous!) for its rectangular shape and its preservation of angles, making it invaluable for navigation.
The catch? Size distortion. While the shapes of countries are accurate, their relative sizes are severely skewed, especially towards the poles. Greenland, actually much smaller than Africa, appears disproportionately large. The same goes for other high-latitude regions.
So why use it? Its angle accuracy makes it perfect for sailors charting courses. Straight lines on a Mercator map are lines of constant bearing, crucial for navigation. However, it's important to remember its limitations and understand how it distorts our perception of the world. Modern cartographers often favor more equitable projections that minimize size distortion, but the Mercator endures, a testament to its navigational utility, despite its cartographic quirks.
