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TrueSize.World : A Better Way to Compare True Size of Region

September 22, 2025
the true size of countriesthe true size of lakesthe true size of oceansthe true size of islandsthe true size of citiesthe true size of continents

TL;DR — TrueSize.World is a true size map focused on showing the real size of places—countries, continents, oceans, lakes, islands, and cities—on one canvas. It highlights the perception gap you get on common web maps and makes comparisons fast, privacy-friendly, and easy to share.

What makes TrueSize.World different?

  • Beyond countries

    • Most "the true scale of …" tools stop at countries. We go further: compare the real scale of countries alongside continents, oceans, lakes, islands, and cities on the same interactive stage.

  • Local, privacy-friendly workflow

    • Import your GeoJSON and draw shapes in your browser; nothing is uploaded. It's perfect for sensitive overlays in class, newsroom, or research.

  • Fine control for clarity

    • Use opacity and rotation to make overlays readable and orientations comparable. Switch basemaps (standard / imagery / terrain) for context.

  • Live latitude & exaggeration

    • Web Mercator preserves angles but inflates areas away from the equator. We surface a live center-latitude readout and an exaggeration ratio so viewers grasp why "map dimensions" often differs from the real area.

  • Share & export

    • Share link to reopen the exact true scale map state. Export GeoJSON for slides, docs, or further GIS work.

    Compare the true size Interactive Comparison Map at https://truesize.world

    What you can compare today

  • Countries — e.g., China vs United States, India vs Australia

  • Continents — e.g., Europe vs Australia

  • Oceans — e.g., Pacific vs Atlantic

  • Lakes — e.g., Lake Superior vs Lake Victoria

  • Islands — e.g., Borneo vs New Guinea

  • Cities — e.g., London vs New York, Shanghai vs Tokyo, Singapore vs Hong Kong

    • 👉 Try our Interactive Map: Open TrueSize.World

    Why the "real map size" matters

    If you've ever wondered why Greenland looks huge next to Africa on a classroom map, that's projection distortion talking. A true scale map makes it obvious: drag shapes to similar latitudes, rotate, and adjust opacity. The real size emerges immediately.