Observed arrival · 2026-09-08
The Equal Earth Map Makes Area Visible
An interactive explainer compares Mercator with the Equal Earth projection and examines a UN resolution encouraging equal-area maps where relative size matters.
Field notes
The comparison uses a slider to place Mercator beside Equal Earth, with zoom, panning, country inspection, and PNG, JPG, or PDF export built into the map. The page quantifies Mercator’s latitude-dependent distortion, stating that its area error quadruples at 60 degrees. It also identifies the coastline data as Natural Earth and the projection calculations as PROJ, while separating the reported UN resolution from the site’s own explanatory role.
Observed signals
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Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.
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