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Mercator projection facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Mercator-proj
Classical Mercator projection of the earth
Mercator 1569
Mercator's own map of the world, of 1569

The Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection which is widely used in cartography today. It was developed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569. It is not a physical projection, and cannot be constructed using geometric tools. On a small scale, geometric shapes can be moved around the map, without distorting them (this property is known as conformity). As a downside, the scale of the shape and the direction of lines may change when shapes are moved. For example, Africa is actually 15 times larger than Greenland, but on this map projection they look the same size.

Today, Mercator projections are mainly used for maps.

Images for kids

  • Mercator projection Square

    Mercator projection of the world between 85°S and 85°N. Note the size comparison of Greenland and Africa.

  • Worlds animate

    Proportions of apparent size and real size (animated)

  • Rhumb line vs great-circle arc

    A rhumb line (blue) compared to a great-circle arc (red) between Lisbon, Portugal and Havana, Cuba. Top: orthographic projection. Bottom: Mercator projection.

  • .

    Tissot's indicatrices on the Mercator projection

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Proyección de Mercator para niños

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