How different map projection distorts the globe
Apr 18, 2021
A map projection is a method to flatten an earth’s surface into a plane to make a geographical map. It requires a systematic transformation of the latitudes and longitudes of locations from the globe’s surface into locations on a plane.
All projections of a sphere on a plane distort the planet’s surface somehow and to some extent. Depending on the map’s intention, some distortions are acceptable, and others are not. Hence, different map projections exist to preserve any sphere-like body properties at the expense of other properties.
The map below that shows 70 different map projections all at once. Overlapping Projection is a simplistic but powerful visualization of how map projections distort countries’ sizes worldwide.
