Share to ClassroomUN Picks New Map for Africa
The United Nations voted on Friday to stop using an old world map. The map is called Mercator. It is more than 400 years old. The new map is called Equal Earth. It shows Africa at its real size. In the vote, 164 countries said yes. Only the United States said no.
A man named Gerardus Mercator drew the old map in 1569. It helped sailors travel by sea. The Earth is round, so a flat map is never perfect. On the old map, land near the top and the bottom looks too big. Africa looks too small. Greenland looks as big as Africa. But Africa is 14 times bigger.
Togo asked for the change. It spoke for the African Union. France says it will use a new map too. The vote does not force any country to change. But many schools and websites may use the new map.
