Map projections are the ways humans attempt to portray the earth's curved surface on a flat piece of paper or computer screen. Because the earth isn't flat, distortion occurs no matter what method a cartographer chooses. You have to deal with it and pick the projection with the least distortion for your purposes. Many map projection types exist, each with special uses. The Mercator projection, likely familiar from elementary school classrooms, shows North and South America on one side and Africa, Europe, and Asia on the other, with Australia off to the side and Antarctica at the bottom. The Albers projection is great for showing area, but country shapes appear distorted. The Gall-Peters projection, known to geography buffs and geographers, caused a stir in the '80s. When making your own map or creating one online, you'll probably be fine. Most cell phones can even provide directions to your house. Still, being aware of different map projections helps you understand what you're looking at - like the true size of Greenland. Read on to learn more about the best map projection, making maps, and map making in general.
About this list
- 1
Good for: AuthaGraph World Map.Wins top Japanese design awards.Minimizes size distortion while faithfully showing all oceans and continents,including Antarctica..
Bad for: AuthaGraph World Map.Hardly anything; this is a good map.
0 - 2
Good for: Mercator Projection.Use it when sailing a ship or in elementary school.
Bad for: Mercator Projection.Understanding the size of Greenland and Antarctica.
0 - 3
Good for: Gall-Peters Projection.Displays country sizes more accurately.
Bad for: Gall-Peters Projection.Keeping everyone calm during the 1980s.
0 - 4
Good for: Albers Projection.Limits distortion between standard parallels.
Bad for: Albers Projection.Minimizes shape and scale distortion. It looks like a globe.
0 - 5
Good for: Robinson Projection.Shows the entire world at once.
Bad for: Robinson Projection.Does not stretch or distort the poles to infinity.
0 - 6
Good for: Cassini Projection.Preserves distances perpendicular to the central meridian.
Bad for: Cassini Projection.Learning the shapes of Central and South American countries.
0 - 7
Good for: Hobo-Dyer Projection.Use it if you want an equal-area map but want the back side printed upside down for a new look.
Bad for: Hobo-Dyer Projection.Seeing Greenland.
0 - 8
Good for: Gall Stereographic Projection.Balances distortion of shape, distance, and size.
Bad for: Gall Stereographic Projection.Getting anything right.
0 - 9
Good for: Lambert Cylindrical Equal-Area Projection.Does not distort the equator. It is very wide.
Bad for: Lambert Cylindrical Equal-Area Projection.Locating the place in Canada where Ice Road Truckers is filmed.Ice Road Truckersis filmed.
0 - 10
Good for: Sinusoidal Projection.Has a constant scale along the central meridian and a constant east-west scale.
Bad for: Sinusoidal Projection.Being round. People who fear sine waves.
0 - 11
Good for: Mollweide Projection.Depicting global distributions.
Bad for: Mollweide Projection.Accurately depicting the shapes of continents.
0
More like this
17 People Share Funny Stories Of Being Mistaken For Employees
On Subreddit r/IDontWorkHereLady, people share funny stories of being mistaken for employees. We've compiled the most hilariously frustrating ones, varying from frustrating to wholesome - vote up the best ones!
Strongest MCU Characters, Ranked
Over 7,000 fans voted on 20+ characters in Strongest Characters In The MCU, Ranked. The current top 3 are Thor, Scarlet Witch, and Doctor Strange.
Best 'My Hero Academia' Fanfiction, Ranked
Over 13K fans voted on 30+ items for Best 'My Hero Academia' Fanfiction, Ranked. The top 3 are Hero Class Civil Warfare, Yesterday Upon The Stair, and Erased Potential.
Ouija Board Enthusiasts Meet Zozo
On Reddit, people use Ouija boards to contact Zozo, a demon allegedly haunting since 1816. Redditors share outlandish tales that seem too real to be fiction, claiming Zozo torments and teases believers who use these boards.
Comments (0)
Join the conversation
Sign in to share your take and reply to others.
First take? Share what stood out to you.