Understanding Map Projections

Because the Earth is constantly changing shape.

Because the Earth is too large to be represented on paper.

Because flattening a 3D object like Earth causes distortion.

Because the Earth is a perfect sphere.

It preserves the size of continents.

It shows accurate distances between all points.

It maintains constant true direction.

It minimizes distortion at the poles.

It makes continents appear smaller than they are.

It is not useful for navigation.

It cannot be used for digital maps.

It distorts the size of landmasses near the poles.

Educational textbooks

Weather forecasting

Navigation apps like Google Maps

Artistic representations

Preserving the area of landmasses.

Showing true direction.

Maintaining accurate distances.

Preserving the shape of continents.

It perfectly preserves the shape of continents.

It eliminates all map distortions.

It balances area, distance, and direction.

It shows the Earth as a perfect circle.

Gerardus Mercator

Oswald Winkel

Johann Lambert

Buckminster Fuller

The three map projections it combines

The three types of distortion it eliminates

The three aspects it compromises: area, distance, and direction

The three continents it accurately represents

It reshapes the globe into a 20-sided die.

It is the most accurate for navigation.

It shows the Earth as a rectangle.

It eliminates all ocean areas.

A rectangular map

A cylindrical projection

A globe

A flat map