Interestingly, the reason that Google Maps uses a variation of the Mercator model is the very reason the projection was created in 1569 – it preserves angles, making directional navigation easier.

This shows just why Gerardus Mercator’s ground-breaking projection (pictured) has endured for hundreds of years. Only now it’s to help us find a restaurant in an unfamiliar neighbourhood, rather than to circumnavigate the world on the high seas.

Now check out historic maps showing how America developed

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Astonishing ways modern maps are misleading you