Why is the World Map Wrong?
Why is the world map wrong? The map is the transfer of the bird-eye view of all or part of the earth to a flat surface on a certain scale. This transfer is done by mathematical methods and is often supported by special signs and symbols. Maps show natural and artificial geographic elements (such as mountains, rivers, roads), while also containing a variety of information, such as country boundaries, climate data, and demographic information.
Basic Features of the Map
Scale: Maps show by shrinking a certain part of the earth. The scale refers to the ratio of lengths on the map to lengths in the real world. For example, a measurement of 1 cm on a 1/100000 scale map actually corresponds to 1 km.
Legent: Each map has a table of signs that explain the meaning of the symbols used. This table is called a legent and increases the readability of the map.
Direction Arrows: The maps contain arrows or compass symbols that indicate directions. In this way, the directions of the elements shown on the map can be understood.
Grid System: A system of isgara, created by latitude and longitude lines, helps determine locations on the map.
Map Types
Physical Maps: It shows natural elements such as mountains, plains, and water sources.
Political Maps: It specifies the borders of countries and their administrative districts.
Administrative Maps: It shows the locations of cities and villages.
Economic Maps: It emphasizes the economic resources and activities of countries.
Topography Maps: It details elevation information and location shapes.
The map has been an important means of communication for humanity throughout history. It was originally used in strategic planning for wars, while today it also plays a vital role in scientific research and areas such as geographic information systems (CBS).
World map falsity is caused by maps representing the surface of a three-dimensional planet on a two-dimensional plane. This leads to various disruptions on maps. One of the most commonly used projections, the Mercator projection, is one of the most prominent examples of these distortions.
Map Projections and Distortions
Map projections inevitably cause some disruption during the transfer of a spherical surface to a flat surface. These distortions can be classified into four main types:
Shape Distortion: Changing the actual shapes of objects on the map. For example, in the Mercator projection, Greenland appears to be larger than Africa, while in reality Africa is 14 times larger.
Field Disruption: Loss of proportion of areas on the map to real areas. For example, South America's area is twice that of Europe, but the Mercator map shows both of them in similar sizes.
Distance Distortion: Mismeasurement of the distance between the two points. In the Mercator projection, distances are exaggerated in areas near the poles.
Direction Disruption: The directions on the map look different from the actual directions. For example, large circle routes are not shown as straight lines.
These distortions lead map users to misunderstand geographic features and can cause navigational errors.
Mercator Projection and Critics
Developed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, this projection is misleading in many ways, though beneficial to sailors. The Mercator projection represents the latitude and longitude lines linearly, while in areas near the poles, the dimensions of land fragments are exaggerated. For example, the size of Alaska appears to be equal to the rest of the United States, while in reality Alaska is only about a third of the size of the United States. This projection is also criticized for reflecting a European-based perspective. Europe's central location on the map causes the real dimensions of other continents and countries to be ignored.
Straight Line Routes: The Mercator projection allows sailors to chart their course in straight lines. This feature helps sailors and pilots to easily determine their direction during cruising. This type of accuracy is critical, especially in long-distance sea travel.
Protection of Angles: Projection protects angles accurately. This makes it easier to navigate the map and gives it a great advantage for navigation. The fact that Meridians and parallels are straight makes it easier to determine directions on the map.
Historical Use: Mercator's map began to be widely used by sailors from the 16th century. This historical use led to the projection becoming standard over time. His frequent involvement in schools and various educational materials increased the recognition of this projection.
Western Central View: The Mercator projection reflects a Western-centric perspective due to its emphasis on Europe's geographical centre position. This strengthened Europe's influence on the world, especially during colonial times in the 19th century.
Aesthetic Appearance: Mercator maps are often visually attractive and regular. Clear lines and symmetrical structure on the map attract users' attention. This aesthetic feature has contributed to the further use of the map.
Educational Tools: Maps commonly used in schools are often based on Mercator projection. This causes students to acquire their geographic knowledge through such maps, increasing the popularity of projection.
Alternative Projections
Gall-Peters Projection: It is a projection that accurately reflects the fields but contains distortions of shape.
Winkel Tripel Projection: It offers a more balanced representation in terms of both field and shape.
Although these alternatives are efforts to improve the accuracy of maps, each projection has its own advantages and disadvantages.
As a result, although world maps are often used in everyday life, the inaccuracies of these maps should be considered. Due to the nature of map projections, disruptions are inevitable, and this can affect users' geographic information. It is important to develop alternative projection methods for more accurate world representations in the future.
Bircan HASGÜL
References:
Why Are All World Maps You See Wrong?
