Skip to main content

Why all world maps are wrong

Lesson created by Kim Preshoff using TED-Ed's lesson creatorVideo from Vox YouTube channel

Let’s Begin…

Could everything you ever learned about the shape and size of the continents be skewed? Which map of the world is most accurate? How might all this be influencing the way you view the world? Vox takes a closer look. 

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Best of Web

TED-Ed Best of Web are exceptional, user-created lessons that are carefully selected by volunteer teachers and TED-Ed staff.

Meet The Creators

Avatar for Kim Preshoff
Lesson creator

What was your reaction when you found out that nearly every map you have looked at or learned from is distorted?

Comments are closed on this discussion.

Avatar for ANTHONY HERNANDEZ
Lesson in progress

I already knew there was other maps, I just never knew the ones that we're right in front of our faces were wrong.


Avatar for bethany hooper
Lesson in progress

I had no clue that the maps we have been looking at our whole lives weren't even accurate. It doesn't make me mad but i dont understand the point on making a map if it isn't even accurate.


Avatar for Saumya Gupta
Lesson completed

The disclosure or in fact revelation concerned with the distortion in the maps that we have been studying through all this while was a complete eye-opener for me personally. It too was a little amusing to realize, that we never managed to develop similar viewpoint towards the maps that we have been studying from over years now.
It was exceptionally astonishing to know that.....


Avatar for Kaylee Wilson
Lesson in progress

I was surprised, I didn't expect that



Avatar for Cecília Quintella
Lesson completed

I wasn't that surprised because I had already studied this topic before seeing the video.


Avatar for Chicory Koren
Lesson in progress

My students and I already suspected that there were different maps for different things.


Avatar for Becky Allen
Lesson in progress

I was surprised.