The Peters Projection, or more accurately the Gall-Peters Projection, is a rectangular map projection designed to offer a different perspective on global geography. It is a specific type of cylindrical map that was popularized to challenge the traditional view of the world. This projection aims to correct certain visual biases by representing all landmasses in a mathematically proportional relationship to their true size on the globe. The map is often used in educational and organizational contexts as a tool to promote a more equitable view of the planet.
The Problem with Standard World Maps
For centuries, the most common world map found in classrooms and atlases has been based on the Mercator projection. This map was initially created in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator to serve a very specific, practical purpose: maritime navigation. The Mercator projection is a conformal map, meaning it preserves the angle of a course, which is why a straight line on the map accurately represents a constant compass bearing for sailors.
The trade-off for this navigational benefit is a severe distortion of area, especially for landmasses far from the equator. The scale increases drastically toward the poles, causing countries in higher latitudes to appear much larger than they are in reality. For example, on a Mercator map, Greenland often looks comparable in size to Africa, even though Africa’s landmass is about fourteen times larger. This visual exaggeration of northern countries can inadvertently skew the perception of their global size and importance.
Defining the Equal-Area Projection
The Peters Projection is correctly identified as a cylindrical equal-area projection, a property that is its defining characteristic. The concept of equal-area means that the relative size of any country or continent on the map is mathematically accurate compared to its size on the Earth’s spherical surface. This ensures that the area of a region near the equator is shown in the correct proportion to an area near the poles.
The projection itself was first described by Scottish clergyman James Gall in 1855, but it gained widespread recognition and controversy after German historian Arno Peters promoted it in the 1970s. This history is why the projection is formally known as the Gall-Peters Projection. The construction of this map achieves its area accuracy by stretching the landmasses vertically near the equator and compressing them horizontally toward the poles. On a Gall-Peters map, continents like Africa and South America are finally shown in their considerably larger true size relative to North America and Europe.
Visual Trade-Offs and Cartographic Debates
While the Gall-Peters Projection solves the problem of area distortion, it introduces a significant trade-off in the form of shape distortion. The necessary compression and stretching to maintain equal area makes many landmasses appear elongated or stretched, particularly near the equator and poles. For instance, equatorial regions appear vertically stretched, while polar regions look horizontally squashed.
This visual consequence has been the source of much debate among cartographers, who often criticize the map’s aesthetic and its reduced utility for purposes requiring accurate shape recognition. Many argue that while the intent to correct a political bias is commendable, the shape distortion makes the map inferior to other equal-area projections. Despite the criticism, the map’s clear prioritization of proportional area has led to its adoption by various educational institutions and non-governmental organizations, including the United Nations, to foster a more geographically balanced perspective of the world. The Peters Projection thus functions less as a tool for navigation and more as a statement about how global geography should be visualized.