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Several factors influence the global-scale cognitive map. The use of school books, atlases and web maps all play an essential role in the development of geographical knowledge of adolescents. This research examines the impact of the educational system versus web maps on the adolescents' mental map. Through a specially designed web application, university students and secondary school pupils estimated the real proportion of countries and continents compared to Europe. Participants with a more theoretical background or wider knowledge about map projections and its distortions estimated the real proportions more accurately. This research also found that the Robinson projection, commonly used in schoolbooks and atlases, is the best-known map projection among adolescents. However, the influence of web maps could not be proven since no Mercator effect was found. Education is of undeniable importance, and therefore, educational materials that encourage people to look more carefully and critically at maps should be further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]