Try Greenland at two scales
Look at Greenland on the atlas map. Then use a globe or an equal-area map to compare it with Africa. A rectangular projection can stretch places near the poles, so apparent size in pixels is a poor guide to actual surface area.
What a flat map has to trade off
A projection turns the curved surface of Earth into coordinates on a flat page. A single world projection cannot preserve area, shape, distance, and direction everywhere. Compare how a long east–west route, the shape of a high-latitude island, and the relative size of two continents change across different maps. Decide which property matters for the task.
Three maps for three different tasks
Use an equal-area map for country or continent size comparisons. Use a globe to see how continents and oceans relate across the map edge. Use a detailed regional map for the shape of a city boundary or a route between neighboring capitals. A familiar projection can still be the wrong choice for a particular measurement.
Read the atlas’s marker correctly
The world map here is a simple longitude–latitude outline, and the pin is an approximate coordinate. It may fall far from the capital or on only one part of an island group. Open the detailed map when the question depends on exact shorelines or administrative boundaries. Practice reading reference markers.
A five-minute projection comparison
Find Greenland, Africa, and Antarctica on a globe and a rectangular world map. Write down which shapes look stretched. Then open an equal-area view and compare the relative sizes again. Ask which impression came from the map design and which observations stay true across all three views.
What to record when comparing a map pair
Note the projection if the publisher supplies it, the central meridian or center of the map, the scale of the area you are comparing, and the feature you are trying to measure. Look for a scale bar on regional maps. If the task is area or distance, compare a numerical value from a suitable source before drawing a conclusion from the shapes alone.
Common questions
Which map is useful for comparing country sizes?
Start with an equal-area map, then check the reported area figures and their scope. For example, a source may include overseas territory in one total or treat it separately. Use numerical figures for a ranking and the map to explain the spatial relationship.
Why does a country appear split across the map edges?
A flat world map needs an edge. Depending on where the projection is centered, a place or island group can appear near both ends of the page. Use a globe or a map with a different center to see the relationship more clearly.