'Is this to scale?': Map shows how big the Australian bushfires are in comparison to the US - and it's got Americans baffled

  • Map comparing the land masses of Australia and America has shocked viewers 
  • The sizes of the two countries were compared amid Australia's bushfire crisis 
  • The devastating bushfires have burnt through more than seven million hectares 

By ZOE ZACZEK FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

A map overlaying the United States with Australia amid the bushfire crisis has left Americans scratching their heads about the size of the island continent.

American science commentator Kyle Hill sparked online debate when he shared an image to Twitter comparing the land mass of the two countries. 

Viewers struggled to fathom the size of Australia and quickly questioned the accuracy of the maps.

American science commentator Kyle Hill sparked online debate when he shared an image to Twitter comparing the land mass of the two countries

American science commentator Kyle Hill sparked online debate when he shared an image to Twitter comparing the land mass of the two countries

Viewers struggled to fathom the size of Australia and quickly questioned the accuracy of the maps

Viewers struggled to fathom the size of Australia and quickly questioned the accuracy of the maps

'I didn't realise Australia was so large! Is this to scale?' one person asked.

'Wow. I honestly never realised it was that large of a land mass. This is eye opening.' 

'Australia is exactly the same width as the USA??' said another.

Another Twitter user added: 'Australia is as large as the US? Didn't know that. And good lord what is happening, the whole continent truly is burning.'

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world at 7,692,024 square kilometres. According to The World Factbook, the United States is 9,833,517 square kilometres.

Some Twitter users hoped the map would give international viewers a greater understanding of the scope of the bushfire catastrophe ravaging Australia.   

Some Twitter users hoped the map would give international viewers a greater understanding of the scope of the bushfire catastrophe ravaging Australia

Some Twitter users hoped the map would give international viewers a greater understanding of the scope of the bushfire catastrophe ravaging Australia

'This map is may be the only way to wake the US up out of its narcissistic coma to realise the horror Australia is experiencing,' one said.

'It's actually sad they have to make this kind of comparison to make Americans realise how big the fire problem is in Australia,' added another.

But the map has also been criticised for failing to accurately display the blazes, as there are yellow, orange and red flames lining the majority of the coastline. 

'In terms of number of fires and pervasiveness around the country it's indicative,' one person explained.

'But those 'flames' don't show actual area burning/burned.'

The bushfire season has killed at least 25 people, destroyed almost 2,000 homes and burnt through more than seven million hectares.  

Major blazes are still burning in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania and authorities predict fires will continue burning until at least March.

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world at 7,692,024 square kilometres. According to The World Factbook, the United States is 9,833,517 square kilometres

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world at 7,692,024 square kilometres. According to The World Factbook, the United States is 9,833,517 square kilometres

 

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