8589356306

The True Size of Africa

A smali contrfcutoon n the ftght agaircst rampant tmmjppjncy. by Kai Krause

Graphic layout tor wsuahzaton octy < somo counlrios aro cxA and fOtatod) Buł the conckisłons aro ve<y accuralo: refor lo laWe below lor exact dala

COUNTRY	AREA 11000 km*
Chlna	9 597
USA	9629
India	3287
Mexico	t 964
Peru	1.285
Franca	633
Spain	506
Papua Naw Guinaa	462
Swodcn	441
Japan	378
Germany	357
Norway	324
Kały	301
New ZeaUnd	270
United Kingdom	243
Nepal	147
Bangladcih	144
Greece	132
TOTAL	30.102
AFRICA	30.221

In addition to the well known social issues of illiteraąf and innumeracy, there also should be sueh a coocept as ^minwuip]xincy~, meaning insuffident geographical knoickdge.

A survey with random American schoolkids let them guess the population and Lind aita of thdr oountiy. Not entirdy unexpected, but still rather unscttling. the majority chose "1-2 bittion^m ainl "laryest in the worUT, rvspectiveły.

Even with Asian and Europestn college students, geographical estimates ww often off by factors of 2-3. This is paitly due to the highły distorted naturę of the predominantły uscd mapping projectkms (sueh asA/crtafor).

A paitkulariy cctranc cxamplc is the worldwidc misjudgement of the tnie size of Africa. This single image trics to embody the massive scalę, which is Lirger than the USA. Chinu. India. Ja/xui and ollof Europę.......combincd!

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