MAPfrappe Introduction

MAPfrappe.com allows anyone to outline an area on Google Maps, and then compare that area elsewhere on the Earth.


The size and shape of areas on Google Maps is distorted throughout the map because it uses a variant of the Mercator Projection. The scale of the distortion increases from the equator to the poles (see right figure). Areas appear relatively larger at the poles and smaller at the equator.

MAPfrappe compensates for these effects. The results of moving an outline around the map can sometimes be surprising.



For example:

Greenland vs India
Africa vs North America
Try it out, or view a previously created outline:


The above Google spreadsheet is publicly shared. Anyone can edit it. Create an outline on MAPfrappe, make a url, and add it to the spreadsheet at Google Documents: MAPfrappe Index.

More examples:
Andes Mountains vs Asia

Great Lakes vs Black Sea

Walt Disney World vs Paris

Gaza & West Bank vs UK

Europe vs Africa

South America vs North America