A amazing reappraisal of the comparative sizes of the continent of Africa and various other large countries shows just how distorted the Mercator projection is when the areas nearer the poles are flattened out, [url]seen here[/url].
I've always found maps fascinating but it is difficult to get a feel of the size of somewhere from a flat map. This truly turns one's perceptions around!
I had no idea that the US could fit into southern half of the continent and that China which seems to be endlessly vast fits easily into just part of the northern section. And europe looks so tiny in comparison.
you learn something new every day 😉 :D.
Not too sure about this.
Not too sure about this.
Try looking at a Gall-Peter's projection. which is one type of equal area projection. It's been around since the 1850s, so not new.
A amazing reappraisal of the comparative sizes of the continent of Africa and various other large countries shows just how distorted the Mercator projection is when the areas nearer the poles are flattened out, [url]seen here[/url].
I've always found maps fascinating but it is difficult to get a feel of the size of somewhere from a flat map. This truly turns one's perceptions around!
I had no idea that the US could fit into southern half of the continent and that China which seems to be endlessly vast fits easily into just part of the northern section. And europe looks so tiny in comparison.
you learn something new every day 😉 :D.
Of course Caroline, you know that at one time, all these continents were joined, so no surprise that they 'fit' into Africa!:)
Of course Caroline, you know that at one time, all these continents were joined, so no surprise that they 'fit' into Africa!:)
I don't really follow the logic of this.
I don't really follow the logic of this.
Hi Crowan,
It's like this: many millions of years ago, all of the continents were joined in one 'supercontinent' called Pangea. During The Permo Triassic and Jurassic Periods (180-200 million years ago) it broke up into two 'supercontinents', Laurasia (northern) and 'Gondwana' (southern.) Since all continents were once joined in this Pangean continent, it is no surprise that all other continents fit into Africa.
It is for this reason that most pre-Jurassic dinosaurs are found scattered over the globe, whilst post-Jurassic and Cretaceous dinosaurs (T-Rex, etc) are found in North America.
Hope this makes more sense.
Love,
Patsy.
xxxxx
Hi Crowan,
It's like this: many millions of years ago, all of the continents were joined in one 'supercontinent' called Pangea. During The Permo Triassic and Jurassic Periods (180-200 million years ago) it broke up into two 'supercontinents', Laurasia (northern) and 'Gondwana' (southern.) Since all continents were once joined in this Pangean continent, it is no surprise that all other continents fit into Africa.
It is for this reason that most pre-Jurassic dinosaurs are found scattered over the globe, whilst post-Jurassic and Cretaceous dinosaurs (T-Rex, etc) are found in North America.
Hope this makes more sense.
Love,
Patsy.
xxxxx
I know about Pangea, Laurasia and Gondwana. I just don't understand why it therefore follows that all other continents fit into Africa.
I think what Patsy's saying (she can correct me if I'm wrong) is that when it split into two supercontinents, it split fairly evenly in two, and Africa is one of those halves... though it doesn't figure with me either at the minute as I'm trying to figure out where Russia fits in. :confused:
But that isn't so.
Gondwana included most of the landmasses in today's Southern Hemisphere.
That is: Antarctica, South America, Madagascar, Australia, Arabia and the Indian Subcontinent, as well as Africa.
It doesn't therefore follow that Africa is as big as all the rest.
Asia is the largest continent, at 44,579,000 square km. Africa is 30,200,000 square km.
My tiny understanding just cannot grasp any of it-the business of vastness of Africa...
...it is amusing how we tend to believe most of the material that we read on internet.
My tiny understanding just cannot grasp any of it-the business of vastness of Africa...
...it is amusing how we tend to believe most of the material that we read on internet.
Does that mean you don't believe it?
Does that mean you don't believe it?
It means it is just another piece of information. May or may not not be correct.
Let everyone ask you your own question...
Do you believe in it Crowan?
One believes in gods, ghosts, low-self esteem etc. - or not. I didn't ask if you believed in it. I asked if you believed it. (i.e. that the fact is correct.)
Do you not believe that Africa is big?
If this answers your question - Yes, I believe that Africa is big, in relation to other continents. (It is the second biggest.) In relationship to the solar system it's pretty small, but that isn't what we were talking about.
And we knew that (whether we believed it or not) before the advent of the internet.
Why would you doubt it?
It is nothing new then is it? We have always known it haven't we?
Asia the biggest, then Africa and so on.
Just find this bit of pointless information. That is all.
Believe it? As in the bit of aforesaid information. Not some metaphysical concept.
(auto correct has obviously slipped the word 'in' which I would not have used)
It is nothing new then is it? We have always known it haven't we?
Asia the biggest, then Africa and so on.
Just find this bit of pointless information. That is all.
Believe it? As in the bit of aforesaid information. Not some metaphysical concept.
(auto correct has obviously slipped the word 'in' which I would not have used)
If this is so pointless to you, why are you engaging with it? Why not simply leave the discussion to those who find something interesting in it?
If this is so pointless to you, why are you engaging with it? Why not simply leave the discussion to those who find something interesting in it?
You asked something and I answered. Topic is always an excuse. It is always people one engages with, not the topic itself. People make topics come alive. If I find it pointless that it is intriguing as to what is new here?
That is my input.
I am sorry it troubles you. I don't intend that.
Chill Crown
I'm not troubled. I'm as chilled as I want to be.
I ask questions the better to understand what you are saying (which I find quite difficult sometimes). I have no emotional baggage invested in them.