Comparing Map Projections: Peters Projection and Others
This page explores the differences between the Peters Projection and several other famous map projections, each offering unique perspectives on representing the world. Scroll down to see each map and how they compare.
Mercator Projection (1569)
The Mercator Projection, created by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, is one of the most famous projections. It preserves angles and directions, making it useful for navigation. However, it significantly distorts size, especially near the poles, enlarging areas like Europe and North America.
Gall Projection (1855)
The Gall Projection, introduced by James Gall in 1855, is a cylindrical projection. It distorts shapes less than the Mercator, making it more accurate for representing global areas. However, it still exaggerates the size of regions near the poles.
Miller Projection (1942)
Developed by Osborn Maitland Miller in 1942, the Miller Projection adjusts the Mercator’s latitude distortions by reducing them near the poles. This projection provides a compromise between shape accuracy and area representation but still over-represents high-latitude regions.
Robinson Projection (1963)
Arthur Robinson developed this projection as a compromise to reduce distortion in size, shape, and distance. Though it slightly distorts all properties, it provides a visually pleasing and balanced view of the world, often used in educational materials.
Peters Projection (1974)
The Peters Projection, created by Arno Peters, emphasizes area accuracy. Unlike the Mercator, it shows countries at their true relative sizes, giving a more equitable view of the world. This map has been promoted for its fairness in representing developing nations without exaggeration.
Hobo-Dyer Projection (2002)
The Hobo-Dyer Projection, created by cartographers Bob Abramms and Howard Bronstein, is another equal-area projection similar to the Peters Projection. It emphasizes fairness in size representation, often showing the world with a south-up orientation to challenge traditional views.
Comparison of Map Projections
| Projection | Developed By | Purpose | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercator | Gerardus Mercator | Navigation | Preserves angles, useful for navigation | Significant area distortion, especially near poles |
| Gall | James Gall | General purpose | Reduces polar distortion | Still exaggerates high-latitude areas |
| Miller | Osborn Maitland Miller | Compromise between Mercator and area representation | Reduces extreme distortions of Mercator | Distorts high-latitude areas |
| Robinson | Arthur Robinson | Balanced general-purpose use | Visually appealing, less distortion overall | Some distortion in all properties |
| Peters | Arno Peters | Emphasis on area equality | Fair size representation | Distorts shape, especially near equator |
| Hobo-Dyer | Bob Abramms, Howard Bronstein | Equal-area, often with alternative orientations | Fair size representation, challenges traditional views | Shape distortion, nonstandard orientations |