The True Size Of ...: weird website review & sites like it

The True Size Of ... fixes a map habit you probably did not know you had. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches shapes near the poles. On The True Size, you search for a country and drag it around the map, and it changes its shape and size to reflect what it would really look like at that latitude.

The classic move is to slide Africa up over North America and Europe. The first time you do it, the sheer size of Africa lands. Greenland shrinks, and Russia looks less like the planet's main character.

The site was created by James Talmage and Damon Maneice. It is quick, effective and works on phones. You can compare several countries at once. If you enjoy it, try /site/mapfight, or browse /category/maps-geography.

Tips for getting the most out of it

Drag a country toward the equator to see it grow or shrink.
Add several countries to compare them.
Try Greenland, Africa and Russia first.

Questions about The True Size Of ...

What is The True Size Of ...?

It is an interactive map that lets you drag countries to different latitudes, showing how their size appears to change because of the map projection. Plan on about 5 min. It works on phones. You can find it at thetruesize.com, and we check the link daily.

Why do countries look different sizes on maps?

Most online maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches areas near the poles. That makes places like Greenland look much bigger than they are, and The True Size lets you correct for it by moving them. Plan on about 5 min. It works on phones.