Some countries are so large — and so often underestimated — that they can swallow several others at once. This pillar stacks multiple countries into a single container to show just how much an equatorial giant, drawn modestly by Mercator, can actually hold.
The DR Congo, barely noticeable on the map because it sits on the equator, is big enough to hold France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Finland together. Brazil can take about fifteen European countries — close to the whole EU by area — and still be half empty. Add or remove countries on the map and watch the giant fill.