Map Projections

world map projections

Transferring the earth's features onto a flat map using a grid composed of lines of longitude and latitude.

It may come as a surprise to learn that nearly every world map which you have ever seen will not have represented countries in their correct, proportional size to one another.

Indeed, only a globe has the ability to illustrate the earth’s characteristics precisely.

The transference of the features of the earth’s surface onto a flat surface has been subject to interpretation and choice since the earliest days of world mapping; here, you can read a little bit about the history surrounding map projections.

As a way of introducing the issues which surround world map projections, why not watch the clip below from the popular NBC television series The West Wing?

Why are we changing maps?

world map projection

Mercator

world map projection

Cylindrical Equal Area

world map projection

Robinson

world map projection

Winkel Tripel