Book 2, Question 147
Why Do We Need World Maps?
Imagine trying to see the whole Earth at once. It is far too big! A map of the whole ball! Every flat map stretches some parts a little.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 2
More fun facts
- Some of the oldest known maps are clay tablets from ancient Babylon.
- Making and studying maps is called cartography.
- Because Earth is curved, mapmakers have to make compromises to draw it flat. These different ways are called projections.
- Books of maps are called atlases.
- Anaximander made one of the first world maps known to historians, more than 2,500 years ago.
- Eratosthenes was the first geographer to put lines of latitude and longitude on his map, because he knew Earth was round.
Sources: National Geographic Education, BBC, NOAA
Questions kids ask
What is the difference between a globe and a world map?
A globe is a round model of Earth, so it shows shapes without stretching. A flat world map always has to make some compromises.