Globes

A globe is a round model of the Earth. It is the most accurate way to show what the Earth looks like. Unlike a flat map, a globe shows the true shapes and sizes of the continents and oceans. You can spin a globe to see any part of the world.

Globes vs. Maps

Flat maps stretch and distort the land to fit on a flat surface. Globes do not have this problem because they are round like the Earth. On a flat map, Greenland looks almost as big as Africa. On a globe, you can see that Africa is actually 14 times bigger.

Parts of a Globe

Most globes sit on a stand and can be spun around. They show the Equator, the Prime Meridian, and lines of latitude and longitude. Countries are shown in different colors. Oceans are usually blue. Many globes also show mountains and other features with raised bumps.

Fun Facts

• The oldest known globe was made in 1492, the same year Columbus sailed to the Americas.
• Some globes are as small as a baseball, while others are as big as a room.
• The first globe did not show North or South America because Europeans did not know about them yet.

Did You Know?

The largest globe in the world is called Eartha and is 41 feet across. It is in a building in Maine!