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Africa calls for map to show continent's true size

Map of Africa - Level 0

The African Union (AU) wants people to stop using a map that was made in 1569. It shows Africa as being small. It is the world's most widely used map. However, countries far from the Equator look larger than they are. Countries closer to the Equator look smaller. The AU wants a map that shows the correct size of Africa.

The AU said Africa is the world's second-largest continent, but the map did not show this. A non-profit organization agreed called the map "misinformation". Another group wants people to use the Equal Earth map, which was made in 2018. On this map "Africa appears 14 times larger than Greenland, as it actually is".

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Map of Africa - Level 1

The African Union (AU) wants people to stop using a map that shows Africa as being small. The map was created in 1569. In the 18th century, it became the international map for sailors. It is now the world's most widely used map. However, countries far from the Equator look larger than they are, while countries closer to the Equator look smaller. The AU wants a map that shows the correct size of Africa, and of other continents and countries.

The AU spoke to Reuters about the map. It said Africa is the world's second-largest continent, but the map did not show this. The non-profit organization Africa No Filter agreed. It said Mercator map was "misinformation…and it just simply has to stop". The group Speak Up Africa wants people to use the 2018 Equal Earth map. On this map "Africa appears 14 times larger than Greenland, as it actually is". This shows the correct size of countries.

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Map of Africa - Level 2

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The African Union (AU) wants an end to the use of a map that shrinks the African continent. The map is called the Mercator projection. It was created in 1569. In the 18th century, it became the international map for sailors. It is now the world's most widely used map. However, it does not show the true size of nations. Countries farther from the Equator look larger than they are, while countries closer to the Equator look smaller. The AU supports a campaign called Correct the Map. It wants a map that shows the correct size of Africa, and of other continents and countries.

The AU spoke to Reuters about the Mercator map. It said: "It might seem to be just a map, but in reality, it is not." It said the map showed Africa as being less important. It said Africa is the world's second-largest continent and has more than one billion people. The non-profit organization Africa No Filter agreed. It said the Mercator map was "the world's longest misinformation…campaign and it just simply has to stop". The group Speak Up Africa wants people to use the 2018 Equal Earth map, on which "Africa appears 14 times larger than Greenland, as it actually is".

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Map of Africa - Level 3

The African Union (AU) has called for an end to a widely used map that shrinks the African continent. The map is called the Mercator projection. It was created by mapmaker Gerardus Mercator in 1569. In the 18th century, it became the international standard for sailors. It is now the world's most widely used map. However, it does not show the true size of different nations. Countries farther away from the Equator look larger than they really are, whereas countries closer to the Equator appear smaller. The AU is supporting a campaign called Correct the Map. It is also calling for a design that shows the correct size of Africa, and of other continents and countries.

The deputy chairperson of the AU spoke about the Mercator map. She told Reuters: "It might seem to be just a map, but in reality, it is not." She said the Mercator gave the impression that Africa was less important. She said Africa is the world's second-largest continent by area and has more than one billion people. The executive director of the non-profit organization Africa No Filter agreed. She said the Mercator map was "the world's longest misinformation and disinformation campaign and it just simply has to stop". The group Speak Up Africa wants people to use the 2018 Equal Earth map, on which "Africa appears 14 times larger than Greenland, as it actually is".

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