The Mercator projection is the map widely used across the globe but inaccurately depicts the sizes of countries and continents. CREDIT: BBC
The United Nations General Assembly voted Friday to back a resolution spearheaded by several African countries to adopt a map that makes their continent bigger while shrinking North America and Europe.
Aimed at “a more accurate representation” of continental landmasses, the resolution was supported by 164 countries while the United States voted against it and six other states abstained.
The new map — known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection — “is a relevant option for improving the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world,” the resolution said.
It urges member states to adopt the new map in place of the traditional Mercator projection, which was designed for maritime navigation by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569.
