Map Projection Examples


Portraying the round earth on a flat map results in various kinds of distortions. This is because one must stretch and/or shear the image of the globe in order to flatten it out. Maps projections distort one or more of the following:

Conformal projections maintain true shape, Equal-area projections maintain true size.
The type of map projection chosen depends on the purpose of the map (e.g. navigation, statistical representation, regional focus, relative location).


Three Basic Types:

Cylindrical Projections, Mercator, Peters, The Peters Map Compared to the Mercator Map, Space Oblique Mercator


Azimuthal Projections, Berghaus Star, Gnomonic


Conic Projections, Equal Area Conic: North America


Images above come from