Monday, March 20, 2017

world view adjusted

The Gall-Peters projection [green], which shows land masses in their correct proportions by area, puts the relative sizes of Africa and North America in perspective. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo
When Boston public schools introduced a new standard map of the world this week, some young students’ felt their jaws drop. In an instant, their view of the world had changed.
The USA was small. Europe too had suddenly shrunk. Africa and South America appeared narrower but also much larger than usual. And what had happened to Alaska?
In an age of “fake news” and “alternative facts”, city authorities are confident their new map offers something closer to the geographical truth than that of traditional school maps, and hope it can serve an example to schools across the nation and even the world.

2 comments:

  1. I imagine a globe to be most accurate.

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    Replies
    1. I'd have to agree with olcharlie.

      Why not give the students tablets or laptops that can run Google Earth?

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