Country size comparison

[multiweb (Marc)]

Pretty cool link.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Awesome
Here's the link to the site he generated them from:
http://thetruesize.com/

[skysurfer]

These comparisons are absolutely misleading, as Mercator projection is used.
And with Mercator projection, the map scale increases with the inverse cosine of the latitude.
So on 60 degrees N (N Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, Siberia) the scale is twice that on the equator and sqrt(3) = 1.73 times that of latitude 30 (average of Australia or South Africa).

So Indonesia will not increase by a single square km when moved to the North (or South) pole !

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by skysurfer

These comparisons are absolutely misleading, as Mercator projection is used.
And with Mercator projection, the map scale increases with the inverse cosine of the latitude.
So on 60 degrees N (N Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, Siberia) the scale is twice that on the equator and sqrt(3) = 1.73 times that of latitude 30 (average of Australia or South Africa).

So Indonesia will not increase by a single square km when moved to the North (or South) pole !

Yes, that's the point of the overlay.

[Matt Wastell (Matt)]

I like the tool but I hope it does not surprise anyone. Globes are the best visual representation - no confusion there.