Why does Antarctica look so big on maps?

Answer 1

Because of the map projection used.

A map is flat and the earth is round. To represent the round earth on a flat map means that you have to distort part of it - this is called a projection. There are many varieties of projection that can be used to make a map, each of which involves a different sort of distortion (it is a complex subject).

A common projection (Mercator) makes the lines of longitude equally spaced as are lines of latitude. This distorts the size of areas towards the north and south poles and is most accurate nearer the equator.

The curved sides of a Robinson Projection compensates for this by narrowing the top and bottom and widening the middle, so that relative areas are more closely preserved.

Answer 2

In order to lay a picture of the round earth flat, the lines longitude are stretched out at the top and bottom, instead of coming to a point as they would on a globe. An affect of this is an increasing distortion of size the farther from the equator. Not all maps project Greenland as that large, however, the mercator map is the most commonly used because it can be easilly used in for ships or planes to plot a "straight line" course on a flat map instead of a round globe.

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Answer 3

Antarctica is the fifth largest continent, covering 10% of the earth's surface.

When you look at flat maps, you'll discover that the map ends essentially at 40 or 50 degrees S. The farthest south extent of the planet is 90 degrees, but because the continent is uninhabited, it is rarely included in flat maps to its full extent.

When you see a white continent spread across the entire bottom of the map, it shows that the continent simply stretches across both sides of the International Date Line, or whatever longitude you'll find on the right and left edges of the map.

Antarctica's relative size is most appropriately shown on world globes.

Answer 4

The Greenland effect is a result of attempting to represent a 3D sphere on a 2D surface. The distortion is tolerated as it make s it easier to plat distances on the Mercator map.