NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size

Subject: RE: NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 08:58 PM

Few commercially available maps would use Mercator these days MarkS. Several are used regularly, but his is not one of them. But you're right, a globe beats them all. If anyone finds that Africa map though, I hope he/she will come back and post a reference here.

Subject: RE: NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 08:49 PM

" major land masses that would FIT INSIDE Africa, so huge is it (the United States; India; all of Europe; Australia; many others - none of them overlapping), "

sorry...IF you saw such, it is just wrong...all those countries will not fit into Africa...perhaps there was a mis-understanding. Africa is about 4000x4000 miles, with a bite out of the lower left quadrant...the US is 3000x2000 or so...you could cram Europe in,...and parts of Australia...but India gets left out...The Peters Map is terribly mis-leading...I need to read more about it and how it is viewed by cartogrophers, but Africa, though large is not THAT large...

here is a page of map resources

Subject: RE: NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size
From: MarkS
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 08:15 PM

Your best bet is to get a globe rather than a flat map because the globe will give you a true feeling of size ratios between landmasses. A standard flat map, usually known as a Mercator Projection, actually makes land masses which wrap around a sphere fit on to a flat plane by fudging their actual dimensions. An alternative, actually a compromise, with a flat map is to get get what is known as an Asmuthal Projection. You have to get it with its center based at the grid coordinates of the middle of the area of interest. The landmasses do NOT look like you remember them from flat maps in school, etc, but will give you an accurate comparison between different landmass sizes, with a lot of surprises along the way! I am sure there are many websites which would offer Asmuthal Projections based on you needs, but Im sorry I just cant direct you to one
MarkS

Subject: RE: NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size
From: Gary T
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 06:37 PM

Just a thought--go to "google.com" and enter something like "Africa map". It's a splendid search engine. If you can come up with the right way to phrase the particular type of map you're looking for, you might find it without wading through thousands of websites. Sounds like a bit of a long shot, but heck--it might work.

Subject: RE: NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 03:01 PM

More Maps of Africa
If you find it let me know..Roger

Subject: RE: NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 02:46 PM

Peters Map
Roger

Subject: RE: NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size
From: Mrrzy
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 02:42 PM

Very interesting, Roger, thanks! Found a site that details Peters maps. Might have to get one... but no, that isn't the one I'm looking for. Mine was a map of Africa, with kind of cutouts of all the other landmasses that fit on top of it. I'll keep looking! And yes, amazing how big it is, isn't it?

Subject: RE: NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 02:31 PM

I got a map free with a subscription to the New Internationalist magazine, it sounds similar to the one you describe - just got hold of it
it is called Peters Projection - a map which represents countries accurately according to their surface areas.
This map is a map of the whole world though and so is not the one you describe though it is fascinating to see the real extent of Africa.
Roger

Subject: NonMusicHelp: Africa map showing size
From: Mrrzy
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 02:22 PM

I am posting this here because I've already asked all my other friends.

I saw at an African festival a while back a really interesting map of Africa, with its countries delineated. Superimposed were outline maps of all the other major land masses that would FIT INSIDE Africa, so huge is it (the United States; India; all of Europe; Australia; many others - none of them overlapping), all nestled around so that you can really see just how big Africa is. I've been looking and LOOKING and can't find the map anywhere. Any of you all seen it, know where to find it, or feel like looking for it yourselves and then telling me where to get it? Thanks,

-Mrr (who grew up there)