* The Mercator projection distorts the size of landmasses near the poles, making Greenland appear larger than South America.
* Navigators have traditionally relied on the Mercator projection because it accurately portrays compass directions, making it ideal for plotting courses.
* While the Mercator projection is useful for navigation, its distortion of area makes it inappropriate for visualizing global population density.
* Modern cartographers often use other projections, such as the Winkel Tripel projection, to minimize the distortions inherent in the Mercator projection.
* The iconic world map in the United Nations headquarters is a classic example of the Mercator projection, which has been used for centuries.
* Though visually appealing, the Mercator projection perpetuates a Eurocentric view of the world, as it exaggerates the size of Europe and North America.
* Understanding the limitations of the Mercator projection is crucial for interpreting global maps and avoiding misinterpretations of geographical data.
* The Mercator projection's influence is still evident in online map services like Google Maps, though they offer alternatives for more accurate representations.