By Ross Adams – MYP1

WHY DO MAPMAKERS LIE?

In early times mapmakers did not know about the world. Most of the time they were guessing at the size of the continents and where they were.

Other reasons for omitting information would be based on military agenda. During times of war military bases are often left off of maps but with todays technology this is very rare.

Mapmakers, or Cartographers distort the truth. The world is a round sphere but when drawn on a map it becomes a flat rectangular plane with a series of dots and lines representing cities and countries. It is almost impossible to depict a round world on a flat surface without loosing some accuracy.

Mapmaker are challenged to fit all the details and information in a small area. Quite often areas such as the North and Southern Poles are omitted or their shape or size inaccurate.

A map can only be accurate in one of four ways: shape, area, distance and direction. There are many types of maps, the most common map projections are the Mercator, Goode, Robinson and Peter’s, however, they greatly distorts the shape.

Peter’s Map Projection

Goode’s Map Projection

Robinson’s Map Projection

Mercator Map Projection

www.britannica.com www.about.com www.independent.co.uk

www.bigthink.com www.wikipedia.com