Map of the World!

This map was a real challenge, as I thought I knew the map of the world and set happily to work! However - all was not what it seemed!
First the flags - the number amazed me: 210 were there really that number of countries? .. even allowing for separating England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland - maybe other countries were similarly split up?
Then, New Zealand appears twice: on the left it is short and fat and on the right it is long and thin; similarly, at the top, Alaska and Canada appear on each side with different outlines?? Of course the world is a globe, but the usual two- dimensional map is more consistent left snd right. Fascinating for a mathematician!!