"UN Votes to Replace Mercator Projection with Equal Earth Map"
Cartographic Projection
a method of representing the curved Earth surface on a flat map, always involving some distortion.
Mercator Projection
a 1569 cylindrical map projection designed for navigation that distorts the size of landmasses away from the equator.
Representing the Earth on a flat surface has been a fundamental challenge in geography for centuries. The Earth is roughly spherical, and any attempt to flatten a curved surface creates distortion. This is the core problem of cartographic projection: every flat map must sacrifice accuracy in at least one of four properties, area, shape, distance, or direction. Over centuries, cartographers developed three broad families of projections: cylindrical, conic, and azimuthal. Each preserves different properties and suits different purposes. The choice of projection is therefore not merely technical. It shapes how people perceive the relative size and importance of different parts of the world.
The Mercator projection, created in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, became the dominant world map for over four centuries. It was designed specifically for maritime navigation. By the 19th century, it had become the standard for atlases, classroom wall maps, and eventually digital mapping platforms. Its dominance meant that generations of students worldwide formed their mental image of the globe through a map built for sailors, not for understanding the relative size of continents.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the principal deliberative organ of the United Nations, comprising all 193 member states. Unlike the UN Security Council, the UNGA does not pass binding resolutions in most matters. Its resolutions carry significant normative weight as expressions of international political will. The UNGA has historically been a platform for Global South nations to raise concerns about structural inequities in international systems, from trade rules to cultural representation.
The Mercator projection works by imagining the Earth's surface unwrapped from a cylinder placed around the globe. The result is a rectangular grid where lines of longitude and latitude meet at right angles. The spacing between lines of latitude increases as one moves away from the equator. This means any straight line between two points gives the correct compass bearing, a property called rhumb line navigation. This made the Mercator projection invaluable for sailors. However, it severely distorts the relative size of landmasses, particularly for regions far from the equator.
This distortion systematically enlarges landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, North America, and Russia, while shrinking those near the equator. Africa, South Asia, and Latin America appear far smaller than they actually are. …
Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi ?
Consider the following countries:
1.Finland
2.Germany
3.Norway
4.Russia
How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea?
Consider the following statements about the Mercator projection:
1.It is a cylindrical projection that preserves compass bearings (rhumb lines).
2.It accurately represents the relative areas of landmasses across the globe.
3.Areas near the poles appear larger than their actual size on this projection.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following pairs:
Projection Type — Key Property Preserved
1.Mercator — Compass bearing (direction)
2.Equal Earth — Relative landmass area
3.Azimuthal — Shape of continents
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Consider the following statements about the Equal Earth projection:
1.It was developed in 2018 by an international team of cartographers.
2.It is an equal-area projection, meaning it preserves the relative sizes of landmasses.
3.It preserves the shapes of countries and continents more accurately than the Mercator projection.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to the UN General Assembly resolution on world maps, consider the following statements:
1.The resolution adopted the Equal Earth projection to replace the Mercator projection.
2.The resolution was adopted with 164 countries voting in favour, including India.
3.UN General Assembly resolutions on such matters are legally binding on member states.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following properties must every flat map of the world distort in at least one respect?
1.Area
2.Shape
3.Distance
4.Direction
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
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