Distortions occur when representing the round shape of the Earth on a flat surface like a map. Certain properties like shape, size, distance, or direction may not be accurately portrayed due to this distortion.
Related terms
Mercator Projection: The Mercator projection is widely used but significantly distorts areas near the poles by exaggerating their size compared to equatorial regions.
Conformal Projection: This type of map projection preserves angular relationships between points, making it useful for navigational purposes. However, it sacrifices accurate representation of size or shape in certain areas.
Equal Area Projection: An equal area projection aims to maintain accurate representation of size, but it distorts shape and distance in some regions. It is particularly useful when comparing sizes of different countries or continents.